Erol Boydak's hearing aid confiscated by Turkish prison authorities

Turkish prison authorities at Sincan Prison have confiscated a hearing aid from businessman Erol Boydak, citing the device’s Bluetooth capability. Boydak, who suffers from 50 percent hearing loss, has been serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence since 2023 following a conviction for membership in a terrorist organization related to alleged links to the Gülen movement.

DEM Party lawmaker and human rights defender Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu raised the issue in parliament, criticizing the decision and calling on the Justice Ministry to intervene. Gergerlioğlu also reported broader concerns regarding prison conditions, including overcrowding and significant delays in medical referrals and hospital transfers.

Erol Boydak is a former executive of Boydak Holding, a major Turkish manufacturing group with significant interests in furniture, energy, and banking. The company’s assets were confiscated following legal proceedings against the Boydak family.