Turkish jails bursting at the seams with inmates, amid deteriorating conditions

Omar Raafat

Around 50 inmates died in their prison cells in Turkey in 2019 because of deteriorating conditions in the prisons.

This came as human rights groups failed in obtaining information about the health conditions of the prisons in the jails, according to the Turkish newspaper Evrensel.

Quoting a human rights group, the newspaper added that 1,333 inmates suffered different diseases, whereas 457 of these inmates are in a critical condition. It added that around 18 inmates cannot leave their beds.

Turkish authorities refuse to release these inmates on health grounds, despite repeated calls by health specialists.

A member of the Prisons Committee in Turkish capital, Istanbul, referred to a sharp rise in human rights violations in the jails following the presumed coup attempt against Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in 2016.

The number of prisoners rose dramatically in Turkey since that date. Tens of thousands of people were arrested and thrown in jail on charges of being linked to the coup attempt, within the framework of the state of emergency that was imposed following the coup attempt, but was lifted last year.

The Prisons Committee member said the rights of inmates suffering diseases are especially violated, particularly when it comes to their right to healthcare.

Turkey is the world’s second largest jailer after the United States. There are around 260,144 people in the country’s prisons, according to the Turkish Ministry of Justice.