Sick Prisoner Özdal Loses His Life

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Sick prisoner Koçer Özdal has lost his life in intensive care in Ankara Numune Hospital.

13 rights organizations had made a statement for Özdal to be released and treated, some MPs had taken the matter to parliamentary agenda.

Özdal’s death was announced by Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır MP candidate Mehmet Temizyüz, Metin Yoksu from Mezopotamya Agency and Fersude newspaper this morning (August 27).

According to the report of Prisons Commission of the Human Rights Association (İHD), as of March 2, 2018, there were 1,154 sick prisoners in Turkey, 402 of whom were in critical condition.

Application was made

The attorneys of Özdal applied to the court last week, requesting that his prison sentence be reprieved and he receive medical treatment outside prison as per the Article no. 16 of the Law no. 5275. The request was rejected.

Non-governmental Organization in Penal Execution System (CİSST) had issued an application the Ministry of Justice regarding Özdal’s condition on May 28, 2018.

Özdal was referred to Numune Hospital from Bafra Prison in Samsun on July 9, 2018. (AS/TK)