Inmate attempts suicide twice because of torture in Turkish prison

Hacı Bişkin / DUVAR 

An inmate in a Turkish prison has attempted suicide twice because of being subjected to torture. 

Veysel Işık, 30, is currently being held in the Burhaniye Prison in the northwestern province of Balıkesir and his family told Duvar that they fear for his life. 

"My nephew is subjected to torture. I'm worried that I'll receive the news of his death at any moment," Coşkun Işık, the inmate's uncle, said.

Işık said that he last saw his nephew 20 days ago, but that the prison administration tried to prevent him from seeing the inmate. 

"He was on a death fast. When I asked him why, he said, 'They torture me.' The administration placed him in solitary confinement despite his death fast. His situation was terrible," Işık said, noting that both of his nephew's suicide attempts took place in a month. 

He also said that he talked to the prison administration on the issue and that he was told, "We take care of him" in response. 

"My nephew is a hyperactive person. He may get aggressive. He needs treatment. When I told this to the prison manager, he said that he would help, but that's not the case," Işık said.

According to Işık, his nephew named a prison guard called Serkan and deputy prison manager Tuna as the main officials torturing him. 

"He says, 'These two men will kill me.' I asked for my nephew to be transferred to another prison," he said. 

"I don't want him to die. Veysel won't survive if he attempts suicide for the third time. Hear our voice before it's too late," Işık added. 

(English version by Neşe İdil)