Struggle in Prison to Keep Colored Pencils, Sharpeners

Inmates from a high security prison in the northwestern province of Kocaeli [known as F-type in Turkey] wrote a complaint letter to bianet, claiming various human rights abuses as the administrations took ban measures on several items. 

Written by Mecit Şahinkaya, the letter said that his “puşi” [also known as Palestinian scarf], has been seized on the grounds that it was used inappropriately. 

Taner Korkmaz, another inmate, is also struggling to receive his colored pencils back. Confiscated 3 months ago, Korkmaz applied to the execution court. However, no reply has been given and colored pencils have not been returned. 

The administration also banned the usage of pencil sharpeners in the prison. All pencil sharpeners in the prison have also been seized. 

Previously, Justice Ministry released a statement, saying that the bans were imposed on the grounds that the materials were used for drawing illegal propaganda items such as flags and symbols, as well as inmates could already benefit drawing materials in the common areas of the prison. 

Inmates, on the other hand, are struggling to acquire colored pencils in the ward. 

Similarly, inmate Özkan Kart applied to Turkey’s Constitutional Court, saying that a high security prison in Ankara limited his inward book collection to 10 items. 

On January 30, the court ruled that limiting inmate’s personal collection of books to 10 items was not a violation, claiming that it didn’t violate Article 26 on “the freedom to express and disperse opinions”. (AS/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.