Jailed lawyer bandaged her broken finger herself

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Jailed lawyer Aycan Çiçek had to bandage her broken finger herself with the help of a warden. As she was placed in solitary confinement as a disciplinary punishment, she was not taken to a hospital for days.

Saniye Çiçek has told bianet the following about the incident:

"My daughter Aycan chanted a slogan after she heard that lawyer Ebru Timtik had lost her life. They came to her ward after that. In a scuffle at the door, her hand got smashed in the door and she got her finger broken.

"She said that a warden told her how to bandage her finger and helped her. She was held in the cell with a broken finger for four days, they took her to a hospital on the fifth day. They bandaged her hand. But, this time, she was taken to the doctor a week late to remove the bandage."

Held in Düzce Prison, Aycan Çiçek's family is in Denizli province and they could communicate only by phone during the pandemic.

The 9-prison given to lawyer Aycan Çiçek in the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) case has also been upheld by the Court of Cassation.

Engin Türkoğlu, another arrested lawyer, also got his arm broken in Tekirdağ No. 2 Type T Prison. As it was not treated properly, he still has complaints.

What happened?

In the trial of lawyers from the Progressive Lawyers' Association (ÇHD), the court announced its ruling on March 20, 2019 and gave prison sentences ranging from 18 years, 9 months to 3 years, 1 month, 15 days. The 2nd Penal Chamber of the İstanbul Regional Court of Justice rejected the objections in October 2019 and sent the file to the Court of Cassation.

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation expressed the opinion that over 159-year prison sentences of all lawyers, except for the one given to lawyer Barkın Timtik, be upheld.

The letter of notification only indicated that the prison sentence of 18 years, 9 months given to Barkın Timtik for "establishing and leading an organization" as per the Article 314/1 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) should be overturned and he should also be penalized for "membership of an organization" like other lawyers.

The letter of notification issued by the prosecutor's office was sent to the 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation.

ÇHD executive lawyer Ebru Timtik and ÇHD member lawyer Aytaç Ünsal went on a death fast in prison for their right to a fair trial. They were referred to hospital on July 30, 2020. Timtik lost her life on August 27 on the 238th day of her death fast. Ünsal ended his fast, he is now in treatment.

The 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation upheld all sentences, except for the ones given to lawyers Barkın Timtik, Selçuk Kozağaçlı and Ezgi Çakır. (AS/SD)