The Covid-19 pandemic and the situation in Turkey’s prisons
May 3, 2020
Overall outlook
The dangerous position of prisons vis-à-vis the Covid-19 pandemic is becoming increasingly prominent. As of May 3, 2020, there has been cases of Covid-19 in 20 different prison facilities in Turkey.
Media reports indicate that at least 4 people have lost their lives because of the outbreak and at least 183 prisoners have contracted the virus.
According to data on open sources and official ministry statements, the number of people infected and the death toll are as follows:
| Prison facility | Cases | Status | Individuals |
| Samsun Bafra Type T Closed Prison | 1 | Death | Prisoner |
| Sincan Prison | 1 | Death | Prisoner |
| Ministry of Justice statement | 3 | Deaths | Prisoners |
| Overall deaths | 5 | Deaths | Prisoners |
| Ağrı Patnos Prison | 1 | Infected | Prisoner |
| Balıkesir Kepsut Prison | 1 | Infected | Prisoner |
| Edirne Closed Prison | 2 | Infected | Prisoners |
| Kayseri Bünyan Women’s Closed Prison | 4 | Infected | Prisoners |
| Muğla Dalaman Open Prison | 3 | Infected | Prisoners |
| Rize Kalkandere Type L Closed Prison | 26 | Infected | Prisoners |
| Silivri 5th Type L Closed Prison | 2 | Infected | Prisoners |
| Silivri 7th Type Closed Prison | 1 | Infected | Prisoner |
| Tarsus Type T Closed Prison | 1 | Infected | Prisoner |
| Tekirdağ 2nd Type T Prison | 1 | Infected | Prisoner |
| İzmir Buca Closed Prison | 65 | Infected | Prisoners |
| İzmir Women’s Closed Prison (Şakran) | 2 | Infected | Prisoners |
| Şanlıurfa Akçakale Open Prison | 3 | Infected | Prisoners |
| Konya Type E Closed Prison | 55 | Infected | Prisoners |
| Ministry of Justice statement | 17 | Infected | Prisoners |
| Overall infected prisoners | 183 | Infected | Prisoners |
| Afyonkarahisar Type E Closed Prison | 50 | Infected | Prison personnel |
| İzmir Şakran Prison | 2 | Infected | Prison personnel |
| Konya Type E Closed Prison | 5 | Infected | Prison personnel |
| Eskişehir Prison | 1 | Infected | Prison personnel |
| Ministry of Justice statement | 79 | Infected | Prison personnel |
| Overall infected prison officers | 137 | Infected | Prison personnel |
Prisoners who have lost their lives
At present, six prisoners have died of Covid-19, in light of news published on the media. In addition to the five deaths indicated in the previous report, Arif Yıldırım who was held in Sincan Prison has passed away last week.
Prisoners who have been infected
Reports said that at least 183 prisoners from across 14 prison facilities have been infected thus far. However, Minister of Justice Abdülhamit Gül has announced that 120 prisoners from four prisons have been diagnosed with Covid-19. On the other hand, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Vice-Chair Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi claimed that over the last 15 days the coronavirus cases in prisons have increased sevenfold.
Besides, Sezgin Tanrıkulu, the deputy chair of the Turkish Parliament’s Human Rights Investigation Commission and CHP İstanbul deputy, has revealed that they have received complaints about “nutrition, hygiene and access to sanitary services in prisons” more than any other topic, calling on the Ministry of Justice to inform the public about the outbreak in prisons at least once a week.
Prison officers who have been infected
The Ministry of Justice has not updated its latest announcement on prison officers who have tested positive, which had put the number at 79. In view of media reports, it is believed that at least 137 prison officers have been infected.
Assessments
- On this May 3, which is the World Press Freedom Day, 175 journalists are being held in prison on account of their journalistic work. The right to life of all imprisoned journalists are under threat on this World Press Freedom Day, particularly dozens who are in the risk group due to their age and preexisting conditions.