The Human Rights Association (IHD) and Freedom for Sick Prisoners Initiative organised an action in solidarity with women prisoners in Istanbul and Ankara.

ISTANBUL

The IHD Istanbul Branch Prison Commission carried out the 415th F sit-in, an action carried out every week to draw attention to the condition of sick prisoners. People's Democratic Party (HDP) Istanbul Deputy Musa Piroğlu, actress Nur Sürer and many people attended the action in front of the IHD building.

Speaking in the action, Nergiz Şahin stated that they will draw attention to the situation of women prisoners to mark 8 March. Şahin noted that according to the figures related to 2019, there were 13,033 sick prisoners of which 110 are women. At least 50 of them suffer from serious health problems.

ANKARA

The Freedom for Sick Prisoners Initiative came together in front of the IHD Branch for the 287th time in Ankara. Initiative members drew attention to the health condition of Engin Aydınalp, a prisoner in Samsun Bafra T Type Closed Prison.

IHD Ankara Branch co-chair Fatin Kanat emphasized that the issue of sick prisoners is one of the biggest problems of the country. The Kanat remembered that Aysel Koç, a sick prisoner in Sincan Women's Closed Prison, ended her life this week. "There are violations of rights and serious negligence of the administration in her death. Aysel Koç has been dragged to death. We will follow this case closely."

Pointing out the condition of ill prisoner Engin Aydınalp, Kanat added: "He has been in prison for 28 years and has 2,5 years left to do before being release. Aydınalp has had tuberculosis and pneumonia in prison. He had surgery on his lungs and partially suffers from respiratory failure".