Inmates Tell ‘Why They Cannot Send Letters’

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Macit Şahinkaya, a inmate in a prison in Van province, has told about the violations of communication rights of the inmates, especially the right to send and receive letters, in a letter he sent to bianet.

According to the information he has given, three inmates were banned from all events on the ground of "sending letter without the knowledge of the prison administration". After the inmates appealed to the Van Inmates Judgeship of Execution, the ban was overruled.

However, the court annulled its own verdict one week later, upon the objection of the Prosecutor's Office.

'The court cannot annul its own verdict'

The ruling no. 2017/2400, which includes the court's annulment of its own verdict, dated November 3, 2017, was issued to the inmates after one year, in November 2018.

The inmates objected to the verdict again on the ground that the Judgeship of Execution cannot make judgment on an objection that is made against its own verdict and Heavy Penal Court should rule on the objection.

They also claimed that until the judgment on the objections are concluded, the letter that was written one year ago is time barred.

Prison administration did not sent a letter for 9 months despite court ruling

A letter written by Talat Şanlı, a inmate in the same prison, which was intended to be sent to Veli Ağbaba, an MP for the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), was also did not delivered on the ground of being "objectionable."

Şanlı appealed to the Judgeship of Execution. The judgeship ruled that the letter "was not objectionable and should be sent" on February 6, 2018. However, this verdict was issued to the inmate nine months later.

The prison administration notified Şanlı that it did not send the letter for nine months despite the ruling of the Judgeship of Execution.

Murat Kaymaz, another inmate of the prison, wrote a letter to bianet, which was also deemed "objectionable" by the prison administration. His appeal to the Judgeship of Execution was also granted and the inmate was also notified of the verdict nine months later. The letter has not reached bianet yet. (AS/VK)