'Operation Back to Life was a crime against humanity, but perpetrators are given impunity'

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Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul branch organized a press briefing on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the "back to life operation" to prisons on December 19-22, 2000, in which 28 prisoners lost their lives and many were injured. 

The day December 19, is also remembered in Türkiye as "the day for Struggle and Solidarity for Human Rights at Prisons." 

İHD İstanbul branch chairperson lawyer Gülseren Yoleri read out the statement in front of the Ümraniye E-type prison in İstanbul and said "they are trying to cover up this crime against humanity through giving impunity to perpetrators."

28 prisoners and 2 soldiers lost their lives in the operation on prisons between December 19-22, 2000. The only case that is continuing is the one related to Bayrampaşa Prison in İstanbul for which the hearings are being held in the 13th Heavy Penal Court of Bakırköy in İstanbul. The other cases have been closed and there are no soldiers or politicians who are convicted.

"State authorities justified the operation hundred percent"

Gülseren Yoleri recalled that those who died in the operation were brutally murdered and the women prisoners in the C-1 dormitory of Bayrampaşa Prison burnt. She said, "The state authorities always justified this assault on unarmed, defenseless people a hundred percent."

Concerning the impunity after the operation, Yoleri said, "Traces of this massacre which they made the whole world watch minute-by-minute was impossible to remove but they tried to spoil pieces of evidence in a hurry. No effective investigation was carried out about the perpetrators of the massacre or about those responsible for it, they were even protected, and promoted. Ali Suat Ertosun, the General Director of Prisons of the time was awarded the Order of Merit in 2004 for his role in this massacre.

"In the case opened 15 years ago, related to four prisoners and one specialized sergeant killed in Ümraniye Prison, where 267 soldiers stood trial, the judgment was given on December 3, 2019. Five of the suspects had already died in the process of the case, and the court acquitted the remaining 262 suspects for "intentional killing with the perpetrator not identified" and ruled for dismissal of the case "intentional injury" and "torture" based on the statute of limitations.

The case related to the operation on the Bayrampaşa Prison is not closed, but extending it unnecessarily they are trying to reach the statute of limitations also in this case, according to İHD İstanbul branch.

"Violations of rights in prisons should be stopped"

Yoleri told the reporters that the prisons are still, at the moment, venues for violations of rights and humiliating treatment of prisoners. She read out their demands.

* The violations of rights should be stopped in the prisons, violations should be investigated effectively and those responsible should stand trials and should be given penalties.

* Legal amendments should be made that will protect the rights of the prisoners to life and other basic rights such as access to education and health and the implementation should be closely monitored.

* The human dignity of all prisoners should be respected.

* No prisoner should be kept in isolation.

* Ministry of Justice should implement Communique number 45/1 unconditionally (issued on January 20, 2007 the Communique number 45/1 states that the time period that the prisoners in F-type prisons can see each other is increased from 5 hours a week to 10 hours a week and that this right could not be taken away with any discipline penalty).

* The prisons should be open to civilian monitoring.

* Children's prisons should be closed, and women's prisons should be reorganized taking into account prisoners' and women's rights.
(AS/PE)