The release of two political prisoners in Turkey has been delayed for the fourth time due to their refusal to express remorse, prompting criticism of the arbitrary decisions made by the prison authorities. Aydın Kudat and Abdurrahman Güner, imprisoned since 1992 for alleged crimes against the state, have faced repeated postponements of parole from Karabük T-Type Prison. On 28 August, their release was delayed by another five months.
Kudat and Güner were initially sentenced to life in prison by the State Security Court in the Bismil district of Diyarbakır (Amed) on charges of “undermining the unity and integrity of the state”. “Life” in Turkey means a maximum of 36 years, and lifers have a right to parole at between 24 and 30 years. Despite a 2012 court decision which overturned a 1996 decision to impose an additional year to their sentences, their release has been blocked numerous times since September 2022. Prison authorities have cited their refusal to sign a declaration of remorse as the reason for these delays.
Zeynep Güner, Abdurrahman Güner’s sister and representative, revealed that the prison administration had pressurised the detainees for nearly an hour to sign the declaration, threatening further detention if they refused. “The administration told them, ‘As long as you refuse to express remorse, you will not be released,'” she stated.
Güner also highlighted health concerns, stating that Abdurrahman suffers from stomach problems and was recently tested for cancer, adding that his brother had died of stomach cancer. She accused the prison administration of obstructing necessary medical care, saying, “The prison management creates obstacles to taking them to the hospital, and their treatment is delayed.”
She called the demand for remorse a “crime against humanity,” stating, “Our friends have done nothing to be remorseful for, and this imposition is dishonourable. Even after 32 years, neither our friends nor their families will accept this demand. It is time to say ‘enough’ to the state.”
The repeated denial of parole to Kudat and Güner reflects broader concerns about the conduct of Turkey’s Prison Administration and Observation Boards, which have been criticised for overstepping their legal authority by using arbitrary criteria to block prisoner releases. These boards, which often apply differing standards from one prison to another, have been accused of acting as quasi-judicial bodies without oversight, particularly targeting political prisoners. “These boards effectively act as courts, directly restricting a person’s freedom,” noted Destina Yıldız, spokeswoman for the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), adding that decisions based on subjective notions such as remorse represent a “new form of punishment” that lacks transparency and fairness.
