Kurdish politician suffering from illness sent back to jail after three days under observation

Duvar English 

Former People’s Democratic Party (HDP) deputy co-chair Aysel Tuğluk, who has been suffering from early-onset dementia, was taken back to the prison in the province of Kocaeli on Feb. 4, after spending three days at the Forensic Medicine Institution (ATK). 

“The court ruled that she could stay for a maximum of three weeks. Of course, there was no three-week requirement, but the Forensic Medicine Institute used three days of it,” Aysel Tuğluk's elder brother Alaattin Tuğluk told daily Evrensel in an interview. 

Previously, Tuğluk has received a medical report from the Kocaeli Faculty of Medicine stating that she “cannot remain in prison” due to the ever-deteriorating nature of her condition. 

After this report, the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute prepared a report stating that “she can lead her life alone, that her treatment and regular polyclinic checks at recommended intervals can be continued under prison conditions.” 

With this report, the Kocaeli Prosecutor’s Office refused to release her.

The lawyers of Tuğluk objected to this report and the politician was transferred to the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute for a third report. 

Even though the court decision stated that Tuğluk could be kept under observation at the Forensic Medicine Institute for up to three weeks, Tuğluk was taken back to prison on Feb. 4, after spending three days there.

Tuğluk was arrested in December 2016 as part of an operation against the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) on charges related to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). She is suffering from early-onset dementia.