In protest of ill-treatment, Gezi prisoner Mücella Yapıcı will not go to hospital

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Turkey's Human Rights Association (İHD) co-chair Eren Keskin has announced that architect and activist Mücella Yapıcı, 72, took a decision not to go to hospital after suffering from bruises due to handcuffing.

Keskin made the comments after visiting Yapıcı on June 8 at Bakırköy Women’s Prison. She said that every time Yapıcı was taken to hospital, her hands were tightly cuffed leading to bruises on her arms, according to reporting by Mezopotamya News Agency. Keskin said that such a treatment amounted to torture.

“Because of this, Mücella Yapıcı took a decision not to go to hospital. We have witnessed once again that these people are stronger than people outside. Their political determinations were an indicator of this. Gezi prisoners are jailed as a result of a very big injustice and due to the law being used as a tool of vengeance. Mücella Yapıcı stated this once again today,” Keskin said.

On April 25, 2022, an Istanbul court sentenced seven defendants, including Yapıcı, to 18 years in prison in the Gezi Park trial, while human rights defender Osman Kavala was sentenced to life imprisonment.

The 13th Istanbul High Criminal Court convicted them for “attempting to overthrow the government” under Article 312/1 of the Turkish Penal Code.