Bayram Ari, a political prisoner who was detained in the KCK operations (operations targeting Kurdistan Communities Union) in 2011 and has been in prison for 9 and a half years, is not being released even though his sentence has been completed.
Atiye Ari, the wife of the political prisoner Bayram Ari spoke to Jin News about the situation of her husband sharing that both the prisoners and their families are becoming victims because of the Turkish government’s approach towards political prisoners.
“My husband was going to be released but now we have learned that his sentence has been extended for another 6 months. We suffered a lot during all the years of his imprisonment. He was first in Diyarbakır Type D Closed Prison. Then he was moved to Kastamonu, İğnebolu, and Bolu Prison respectively. We can not visit him very often because it is too far to travel.” said Atiye Ari.
She stated that the situation has worsened because of the pandemic. They are concerned about the health of Bayram Ari as he has been suffering from various illnesses.
“My husband has asthma and other chronic illnesses. He is in a high-risk group regarding the Covid 19. He says he is always wearing a mask, but how long will the mask protect him. The measures taken are not enough in the prison,” she said.
When the family called the lawyer, they learned that his duration of sentence was extended.
“We called his lawyer and the lawyer said that even though his sentence period is over they have extended this period.” said Atiye Ari.
The lawyer of Bayram Ari will apply for his release but the family is not sure whether the authorities will hear their voices. “We will ask for our rights but we do not know whether it will work. There are many other families suffering like us. The government should end this attitude towards political prisoners,” she said.
