83-Year-Old Sick Prisoner Sparks Outrage in Turkey

The continued detention of an elderly sick man in Turkey has ignited a wave of anger among human rights organizations and severe criticism of the authorities for insisting on keeping him incarcerated. Twenty-one unions and civil society organizations in Turkey issued a joint statement urging the authorities to release prisoner Mohamed Amin Özkan, who is 83 years old. According to Turkish media, Özkan suffers from serious health issues, warranting his immediate release. The unions and the Turkish organization stated that Özkan "is unable to care for himself," pointing out that he is held in prison despite medical reports indicating that he cannot endure confinement. The statement continued: "Keeping Özkan in prison instead of treating him and sending him to the hospital after his condition deteriorated shows that inhumane treatment has become systematic" in Turkey. Özkan, who has been imprisoned for 25 years, is facing difficult health conditions, having suffered four heart attacks, as well as having high blood pressure, thyroid dysfunction, osteoporosis, in addition to losing his sense of hearing and eyesight, according to the Stockholm Center for Freedom. Özkan can only relieve himself with the assistance of a fellow inmate. Images of Mohamed Özkan sparked outrage on Turkish social networks earlier in June, showing him handcuffed while being transported to the hospital.