Istanbul Medical Chamber warns of poor prison conditions

The Istanbul Medical Chamber (İTO) has issued a warning regarding the deteriorating living conditions and health rights of inmates in 'well-type' prisons. According to reports and complaints received by the chamber, prisoners are being held in extremely small solitary confinement cells of approximately 8 square meters.

Inmates reportedly receive an average of only two hours of outdoor ventilation per day. The chamber also noted allegations of increased pressure, ill-treatment, and torture within the prison system.

As a result of these conditions, six inmates at the Marmara L Type Prison are currently on hunger strike. Tacettin Erol Şahin and Cem Dursun have reached 125 days of striking, while Cemil Kurt, Emircan Yazı, Hasan Basri Yıldız, and Engin Ateş are participating in indefinite hunger strikes. The chamber emphasized that these conditions pose serious and life-threatening risks to the health of the detainees.