Abdullah Yılmaz, held in Izmir Kırıklar No. 2 Type F Prison, was expected to be released on 5 July. However, during a phone call with his family, he reported that the Observation Board had postponed his release for three months, citing a decision that he was “not of good conduct.” It was stated that his situation would be re-evaluated at the end of this period.

Wounded by 12 bullets, sentenced to life in prison

Abdullah Yılmaz, born in Siirt (Sêrt), was severely wounded and detained in 1995. Despite surviving after being shot twelve times, Yılmaz rejected the court’s attempts to pressure him into submission and instead delivered a political defense. Because of this stance, he was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment. Over the course of his 30-year imprisonment, he has been subjected to repeated transfers between prisons and numerous rights violations.

His health condition remains critical

In a statement from his family, it was emphasized that Yılmaz is battling serious health problems. He has suffered from kidney disease for years, underwent a high-risk surgery due to narrowing in his carotid artery, and now lives with a stent in his head. Reacting to the obstruction of his release, his family called for the immediate release of seriously ill prisoners.

Observation boards have become a new tool of repression

Established under a law passed in 2020, the Administrative and Observation Boards have become a new mechanism of repression, particularly against political prisoners. Using disciplinary penalties or political stances as justification, these boards arbitrarily deny “good conduct” evaluations, effectively prolonging sentences indefinitely and turning prison terms into life-long captivity.