Sick Inmate Avcı Released

Istanbul 22th High Criminal Court admitted the request for the released of Kemal Avcı, a cancer thriving inmate. Avcı is expected to be discharged from Tekirdağ High Security Prison today. 

He hasn’t been released right away after the court ruling yesterday, advocate Evrim Deniz Karatana told bianet. 

Avcı has also been convicted to an additional 15 months of prison for insulting prison guards - a sentence that has been ordered by Tekirdağ 2nd Peace Court. 

“My client has been jailed for 9 months. We have applied to have this prison term used for the second conviction. The procedures have been completed this morning and we are expecting my client to be discharged today,” she continued. 

What happened?

Initially detained on 10 December 2012, Kemal Avcı (26) has been arrested for being “an illegal organization member” on 13 December 2012. He has been serving in Tekirdağ 2nd High Security Prison ever since. 

Suffering long time with ulcer, epilepsy, rheumatism and hypertension, Avcı was diagnosed with stomach cancer in a doctor visit. 

He has lost roughly 15 kilos for the past 2 months. Lastly examined by doctors at Trakya University, Edirne, Avcı has been declared to be in his last stage of his disease. 

In July, surgeons removed 4/5 of Avcı’s stomach. 

More than 400 sick inmates awaiting release  

According to the latest report by Human Rights Association (IHD) Diyarbakır Branch, there are at least 413 sick inmates in Turkey’s prisons house with 122 in urgent need for discharge. 

Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) released a statement this week, saying that at least 405 sick inmates are being kept in prisons across Turkey despite the graveness of their condition. (AS/BM)

* Click here to read the original article in Turkish.