Prisoners face Isolation and Torture under the Orders of the Ministry of Justice

We hereby share an unofficial translation of a report from Yeni Demokrasi on the situation of the torture and isolation of the Partizan prisoners.

Imprisoned partisans Ünal Yiğit and Engin Bulut, who were sharing a cell in Adana F-Type High Security Closed Prison, were placed in separate cells on the orders of the Ministry of Justice. Upon learning that he would not be placed in the same cell with Bulut, Ünal Yiğit protested this and was attacked in the corridor by guards wearing Robocop suits, known as the “A Team” or “Ready Force.”

The isolation and torture attacks in Adana’s F, T, and E type prisons, which have frequently been in the news for the torture of prisoners, have been compounded by a new attack. Prisoners convicted of the same charges at Adana F Type High Security Closed Prison (formerly known as Kürkçüler F Type) were subjected to torture and placed in separate cells.

According to the information we have, the incident unfolded as follows: On October 20th, Yiğit was taken from his cell with Engin Bulut for an 11-day solitary confinement and put in isolation. He was expected to be transferred from solitary confinement after completing his sentence. However, this did not happen. Waiting for Yiğit to be brought in, guards arrived at Bulut’s cell, saying, “There are instructions from the Ministry of Justice. Ünal will be kept in another room, you will stay here.” They demanded that Bulut put Yiğit’s belongings in a bag and hand them over. When Bulut refused, stating that “if necessary, Yiğit could collect his belongings himself,” the guards left. Five minutes later, the guards returned to the cell for a second time, forcibly collecting the belongings and leaving. Meanwhile, Yiğit, having learned that he would not be allowed to join Bulut, was heard chanting protests in the corridor. The guards began to attack and torture Yiğit, taking him back to the solitary confinement where he was being held.

It was learned that patriotic and revolutionary prisoners who heard the sounds of torture and Yiğit’s slogans protested this aggressive attitude of the administration and the “order to separate the cells” with the slogan “Human Dignity Will Defeat Torture.”

Yiğit, whose body bore marks from the assault he endured during the attack, was also denied admission to the infirmary. The prison administration is attempting to cover up the torture by preventing Ünal Yiğit from obtaining a medical report.

The imprisoned Partisans, Front-line prisoners, and patriotic prisoners will apply to the relevant institutions and file criminal complaints. It has also been reported that Yiğit’s lawyers will be monitoring the process.

(ISTANBUL)