The Turkish Ministry of Justice in a new circular eased the conditions required for the release of prisoners who are old or are disabled, or have chronic illness.
According to the new circular, the chief prosecutors can decide to release a prisoner fitting that criteria, even if the prisoner does not file any application, Artı Gerçek reported.
According to the Turkish law, a prisoner can be released over medical reasons only after the Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) provides a report in favour. The new memorandum removes this requirement and gives the prosecutors discretionary powers over release decisions related to medical problems.
The new circular came after the Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ found himself at the target of criticisms that followed the death of a sick prisoner, retired lieutenant general Vural Avar, sentenced to life in prison for his role in what is known as Turkey’s post-modern coup referring to a military memorandum issued on 28 February 1997.
There are over 1,500 sick prisoners in Turkish prisons, 651 of whom suffer from severe conditions, according to April 2022 data by the Human Rights Association (İHD). At least 22 prisoners have lost their lives behind bars in the past year out of 45 inmates whose appeals for release have been rejected.