As Diyarbakır Bar Association (DBA) and Human Rights Association (İHD), we have been working on human rights violations in prisons for a long time. We visit prisons either upon any complaints or appeals or the agenda prepared by our commissions. We conduct necessary investigations in prisons, prosecutor’s office or the Ministry of Justice.

For a long time, Elazığ Penal Institution has been known to public as a prison where there is serious violation of human rights. Upon some interviews we made with prisoners, we have observed that the violations have been continuing. The previous complaints and visits we paid to the authorities had not concluded positively.

The relatives of inmates in Elazığ High-Security Prison Number 2, located in Elazığ Penal Institution Campus, applied to Diyarbakır Bar Association (DBA) and Human Rights Association (İHD) on 19 Feb. 2018 complaining about intensive torture and battery for the past few days. In accordance with these applications, members from the bar’s Prison Watch Committee and İHD Diyarbakır Branch paid a visit to Elazığ Penal Institution on 21 February 2018.
An outline on violations against Human Rights is given below in accordance with the content above and other prisoners interviewed.

    Having entered the wards/cells in the evening on 15.02.2018, prison officers told the prisoners that the Ministry of Justice issued a notice and after then, prisoners would have to stand up for the counts, and if prisoners –convicted or on remand- disobeyed this, they would face disciplinary proceedings.

    On 16/02/2018, officers entered the wards at 8 a.m. Prisoners said they refused that practice and were battered and tortured by the officers, followed by minutes taken down They stated that, especially, on Sunday, 18/02/2018, they were battered and tortured heavily and there were many wounded prisoners consequently. They said the special team raiding their wardens battered them violently, insulted heavily and threatened them to death; that this team smashed the furniture (tables, chairs, etc) and they didn’t have security of life there. The commission were informed that the special quick response team were not seen before inside the prison premises They reported that the battery and the torture lasted until Tuesday 20/02/2018 systematically and they were not allowed to see the doctor in the infirmary. 

    We have observed beating marks clearly. We saw purple and yellow bruises around the right eye of convicted E.D., black and blue marks on the fingers of the left hand of convicted E.T., black and blue bruises and swellings over the left knee of convicted M.B., and convicted B.K. had been hit in back of his head and there was a swelling, and beating marks all over his leg.

    The prisoners were forced to stand during counts similar to a military gathering style and those who refused were dragged to the exercise yard, were tortured and insulted. Beating marks were observed over the bodies of nearly all prisoners interviewed, and they were beaten and tortured systematically. The prisoners’ right to health was restricted, as a result of their not being sent to infirmary or to hospital.

The prison administration has remained unconcerned with the abovementioned practices, which means an arbitrary behaviour constituting a crime. If this continues, it will generate even worse consequences. We would like to emphasize our concerns that there is no security of life of the prisoners.
First of all, Turkey needs to renew its penal system and policy in accordance with international human rights laws, especially with prisoners’ rights. Torturing prisoners must be ceased immediately; prisoners must be treated with dignity as imposed by international law. Prisoners’ right to health must be protected. Preventive medical services must come into prominence. Sick or ill ones must be able get sufficient medical care.
We would like to summon the judiciary to investigate violations against human rights taking place in Elazığ High Security Prison No:2., and punish the personnel responsible for those practices.
Our committee has ascertained that there must be an effective judiciary and administrative control over prison system, physical conditions, and treatment. We invite the Government to form “independent” control mechanisms in accordance with Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). Moreover, we invite the Ministry of Justice and the Parliament’s Human Rights Inquiry Committee to investigate the violations in Elazığ High Security Prison No:2.

Diyarbakır Bar Association, Prison Watch Committee
Human Rights Association, Diyarbakır Branch