The health condition of Soydan Akay, a seriously ill prisoner held in Marmara Closed Prison No 9, remains serious. Akay was admitted to the hospital in the prison campus 3 times in March with the complaints of "emergency", 4 times with cardiological and infection, 3 times with heart attack and blood pressure. Akay was again taken to the hospital on 26 March with the same complaints, but was told that he had "high blood pressure" and was sent back to his solitary ward.

 

Akay and Şafi Hayme, executive of Mezopotamya Federation of Legal Solidarity Associations of Families of Prisoners and Convicts (MED TUHAD-FED) stated that ill prisoners must be released. 

 

Hayme said that he was held in the same prison with Soydan Akay in Amed (Diyarbakır) in 2012 for 3 and a half years and said, "Since then, he has been suffering from diseases such as cancer and prostate. While those sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment are kept in solitary confinement, Soydan Akay has been held in solitary confinement for 8 years and subjected to arbitrary treatment even though he has only been sentenced to life imprisonment. Although he had a heart attack, he was put in solitary confinement in prison again. How can a seriously ill person be kept in solitary confinement and not be accompanied by anyone? He has 3 heart attacks and he is alone. Is this justice? The name of this is to put him face to face with death. Either they should put him in the ward or a prisoner should be placed next to him. There are hundreds of seriously ill prisoners, not just Soydan Akay. A new 'process' has been initiated. Since this process has been initiated, sick prisoners should also be released. Steps should be taken in this direction. If these steps are not taken, people will lose faith in this process. Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan has taken a step, the state also needs to take a step."

 

'ILL PRISONERS MUST BE PROTECTED'

 

Stating that all ill prisoners must be released, Hayme added, "Although their sentences are over, the Administrative Monitoring Boards do not allow their release. We demand the release of seriously ill prisoners as soon as possible. We call on the Minister of Justice, the Speaker of the Parliament and representatives of other political parties to release the sick prisoners without delaying a single day. Everyone should take care of sick prisoners where they are. Sick prisoners should not be left alone."

 

MA / Müjdat Can