İHD İstanbul branch: 'Condition of ill prisoner getting worse'

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The Human Rights Association (İHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Commission held a press statement today in front of the association building regarding the 596th "F sit-in." İHD, addressing the condition of seriously ill prisoner Önder Poyraz, emphasized that obstacles to the treatment of sick prisoners and human rights violations continue in prisons.

The association shared the condition of Poyraz, who is currently detained in Erzurum Dumlu High-Security Prison No. 2:

"Önder Poyraz is severely ill with stomach and kidney conditions. Due to the pain and limited mobility caused by the spinal injury and the implanted metal plate, he experiences, along with the inability to use his right arm due to a stroke, he is trying to sustain his life with one kidney due to the complete loss of function of the other kidney.

"Before being transferred to Erzurum Dumlu High-Security Prison No. 2, Poyraz, who was held successively in Şırnak T Type Closed Prison and Batman Beşiri T Type Closed Prison, despite suffering from severe illnesses and without receiving treatment for his ailments, struggled to live alone due to severe mobility limitations. Additionally, due to his stomach ailment, he rapidly deteriorated in health as he vomits everything he eats, posing a serious threat to his life."

"He can't manage under these conditions"

İHD also conveyed a statement from Poyraz's spouse who wants him to be released as soon as possible:

"According to what my spouse told me, when he gets sick, they only take him to the infirmary, give him painkillers, and then send him back, saying that there's nothing wrong with him. They don't call an ambulance until his condition becomes very serious. When he called me from Erzurum, he said his arm had become paralyzed. His condition is worsening. He can't even meet his own needs anymore. He has platinum all over his neck and back due to the spinal injury, and he lives with only one kidney. He is alone in the cell, and that's why his condition is getting worse.

"My spouse is sick, and he is not receiving treatment. We submit petitions for treatment, but our requests are denied. Whatever he eats, he vomits due to his stomach condition. The only thing officials do in this situation is take him to the infirmary and then return him to his cell alone. I visited during an open visit on August 9th. His condition has worsened due to the interrupted treatment.

"Due to the stroke, he can't use his hand, he can't move his fingers at all. The veins in his right hand are blocked. This issue was brought up before, and the prison administration took him to the hospital for that reason. An MRI of his arm was taken back then. Since that day, they haven't taken him to the hospital for check-ups, and he hasn't been treated.

"His condition was very bad during the visit. Even in that bad condition, he is kept in a solitary cell, and his friends are given disciplinary penalties along with him. He's struggling a lot in that state. He can't fulfill any of his needs properly on his own. If Önder had received early treatment, maybe he could use his right hand today. Despite numerous requests and petitions, he hasn't been treated. They only took him to the infirmary and gave him painkillers. If they had treated him, his condition wouldn't be so severe today. His kidney, back, and now his hand... These illnesses are affecting his entire body. His right arm was the only thing he had left, and now that's gone too. He can't manage in prison under these conditions anymore. He can't function like this anymore. If they would let him go, we would take care of him ourselves. He misses his children because he's far away, but I can't take the children to see him every time, because I cannot afford it. We want him to be released as soon as possible."

(AÖ/PE)