VAN - Jailed journalist Nedim Türfent and Ziya Ataman spoke to other prisoners in Van High Security Prison about the Covid- 19 outbreak. Prisoners told that they feel their lives are in danger with the positive cases in prisons. 

 

Prisons are among the the places under serious risk due to the threat of coronavirus (Covid- 19) pandemic especially in these days the number of cases increase on a daily basis. While thousands of ordinary prisoners were released due to the outbreak with the new law on execution, political prisoners were left for dead in prisons. Many people died in the prisons since then. One of these prisons is Van High Security Closed Prison.

 

Journalists Nedim Türfent and Ziya Ataman, who are also prisoners in Van prison, spoke to sick prisoners about the outbreak and sent us their statements via mail.

 

48 year old sick prisoner Hikmet Kara, who is in prison for the last 28 years, is one of the prisoners in risk group. Kara, who has heart, diabetes and stomach disease, has had stomach bleeding 4 times so far. Kara said, “I informed all relevant institutions about my chronic diseases. Nobody returned or took any action. I wanted to have a test but they refused it too. It is not possible to be in the potential risk group and not to worry. We are both in potential risk group, and the measures taken are insufficient in prisons. I have been holding on in here for 28 years, just to die of a virus. This is not acceptable."

 

47 year old Vahdettin Erdemci, one of the prisoners in risk group has asthma, COPD, and lung failure. While I was being tested in the infirmary, the Prison Director was also there. He was in a panic because of the numbers. If the necessary tests and fillation studies had been done, there would have been a very disastrous outcome.  Let alone the treatment options and the right to access health, we are taken to the infirmary too late. Our life is seriously in danger. We are calling on the public for awareness."

 

Sinan Kare who has chronic asthma and gallbladder disease, said he was hospitalized once in the past 2 months but he wasn't tested on his way back to prison.  Stating that he demanded to be tested during the 14 day quarantine after the doctor's office, said: "The doctors ask for the symptoms and take our temperature. But there are asymptomatic cases. They might have carried the virus inside like this. I am very worried."

 

Mehmet Özçelik (58), who is a diabetic patient, emphasized that the cases are increasing in Van in general and said; “If adequate and necessary precautions were taken, the virus might not have penetrated these prison walls. Now we don't have access to treatment nor have hygienic conditions. We are living on our nerves. All prisoners who have chronic diseases must be released now."

 

71-year-old Abdulbaki Alp, who was arrested while he was a member of the Muş Provincial Council, is also in the risk group due to his advanced age. Expressing his concern, Alp said: "We demanded to be tested but no one heard our demands. There have been positive cases, but they only took our temperatures. The authorities is responsible for the deaths in prison."