Turkish ministry fails to answer questions on prison torture cases despite 'monitoring' commission

Serkan Alan / Duvar

The Turkish Justice Ministry has failed to provide the number of torture incidents in prisons, although it said in its response to a parliamentary question that one of its commissions "meticulously" inspects any reports of torture.

Addressed to Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül by main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Istanbul deputy Sezgin Tanrıkulu, the parliamentary question inquired about the number of applications made by inmates to the ministry regarding incidents of torture in prison.

"Applications from inmates, civil organizations or official human rights associations are meticulously inspected, and necessary action is swiftly taken against any officials suspected of wrongdoing or neglect as a result of judicial and executive investigations," said the official answer to Tanrıkulu's question about the number personal applications with regards to torture incidents.

The response also noted the existence of an internal commission that monitors media coverage of prison torture incidents, and "swiftly inspects the incidents and informs the public about the outcome."

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'Inmates have same access to healthcare as free people'

The ministry also failed to respond to the CHP deputy's question about the number of inmates in Turkey who are ill, instead assuring the lawmaker that inmates have equal access to healthcare as persons who aren't incarcerated.

"Inmates have priority access to health rights and services, and all their examination or treatment are secured by the government and free," the ministry said.

The ministry didn't respond to questions about inmate grievances either.

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