Turkey: Lawmaker raises concerns over 266 girls in prisons

Asu Kaya, head of the YENİ Party Women's Branch and Osmaniye MP, has submitted a written parliamentary inquiry to the Turkish Grand National Assembly regarding the living conditions of 266 girls aged 12 to 18 in the country's prison system.

Based on data from the Association for Civil Society in the Penal System (CİSST), 185 of these girls are currently held in pre-trial detention, while 81 are convicted. Kaya requested information from Justice Minister Akın Gürlek regarding the duration of detention for these minors and whether judicial control or other non-custodial measures were considered before imprisonment.

The inquiry highlights that girls in closed prisons are currently housed in child wards within women's prisons, noting that there is only one independent educational facility specifically for children. Kaya called for the establishment of independent institutions that meet child rights standards and requested details on access to education, healthcare, and regular communication with families via face-to-face, telephone, or video calls.