Turkish association files lawsuit for cancellation of partial curfew imposed on senior citizens

Duvar English

An Istanbul-based association has filed a lawsuit for the cancellation of the partial curfew imposed on senior citizens, citing discrimination.

The Common Life Development Association (“Ortak Yaşamı Geliştirme Vakfı” in Turkish) said in its petition that the 23rd Article of the Constitution secures freedom of travel and this right can be limited only based on reasons cited in the Consitution, online news portal Bianet reported on Jan. 25.

The association called on the Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board to adopt a solution other than the partial curfew implementation which it said “marginalizes and shows seniors as invaluable and useless individuals.”

“Our first call is to the Scientific Advisory Board. We are of the opinion that they should urgently revise their suggestions [to the government] in a way that implementations with regards to senior citizens will not cause human rights violations, discrimination and abuse against them,” Biaet quoted the association's head Yusuf Doğan as saying.

“Unfortunately, no emphatic decision has been so far taken with regards to senior citizens, which is why we decided to apply to the judiciary,” he said.

Citizens who are 65 and above are subject to daylong curfews, except between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Youth aged 20 and young are also banned from going out except between the hours of 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, Turkey on Jan. 25 reported over 5,642 new COVID-19 cases, including 671 symptomatic patients, according to the Health Ministry data.

The country's overall case tally is now over 2.43 million, while the nationwide death toll has reached 25,210, with 137 fatalities over the past day.