Cancer Patient Not Released from Prison Despite Report by Council of Forensic Medicine

Photo: Mezopotamya Agency

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Erdinç Tulay (63), an inmate with stage four cancer, is still being kept behind bars at Ankara Sincan Prison despite a report by the Council of Forensic Medicine.

Tulay was put in prison in 2016 due to three cases against him for "membership of a terrorist organization", "propagandizing for a terrorist organization", and "threatening in the name of the terrorist organization."

The Council of Forensic Medicine stated in a report on July 10 that Tulay was diagnosed with "metastatic lung cancer" and need to start chemotherapy, the Mezopotamya Agency reported.

"It is appropriate that to postpone the execution of the sentence for a period of six months, at the end of the postponement period..." the Council said, and a decision shall be made at the end of the postponement period according to the patient's response to treatment and the situation of the illness.

Tulay previously underwent surgery when he was staying at Bitlis Prison. He was transferred to Ankara in May for chemotherapy. Upon the report of the Council of Forensic Medicine, Bitlis Chief Public Prosecutor's Office ordered that the execution of prison sentences of 1 year 13 months and 2 years and 1 month shall be postponed for six months.

After the Council's report was released, Tulay's attorney, Şenay Karakuş, submitted five petitions, which included scientific notes that state the situation is urgent, to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation. However, the petitions have not yet been processed.

"This is a violation of the right to life. The person does not have the conditions to live in prison alone. In this state, it is not healthy for him to remain in prison," Karakuş said.

"The prison did not carry out essential procedures on the ground that 'he will be released anyway'. His condition is getting worse. A person's health is more important than the sentence he was given. We prove that his health is bad by the report we received from the Council of Forensic Medicine, the state's most official institution. There is no questionable aspect of this."

President pardoned three convicts

President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pardoned three ill inmates by three decrees published on the Official Gazette today (November 7).

The three inmates were convicted of several charges including "willful killing", "use of an unregistered firearm", "willful injury of a public officer", and "qualified robbery".

According to a statement released by the Human Rights Association (İHD) Ankara Branch, 39 ill inmates lost their lives in prisons of Turkey between early 2017 and August 2019.

In a recent statement, the İHD has announced that there are currently 1,333 prisoners behind bars, 457 of them in critical condition. (RT/VK)