History turkey

In the Ottoman Empire prisons were called dungeons (zindan). In Turkey these were mostly dark and

damp towers.[1]

The first prison was built in Sultanahmet quarter of Istanbul and it was called general

prison (Hapishane-i Umumi).[2]

Dungeon of Bodrum/Muğla

Besides the death penalty the Penal Code of 1858 included three different types of sentences: rowing on

a galley (kürek), pillorying (prangabentlik) and imprisonment in a tower (kalebentlik).[3]

The Penal Code of 1 March 1926 (Law 765) made a difference between heavy crimes and

corresponding sentences (ağır suç and ağır ceza) and light crimes (hafif suç and hafif ceza).

Besides offences (cürüm) there is a separate law on infringements (kabahat). By Law 5349 dated 11 May

2005 the differentiation between light and heavy sentences was lifted.

The time between 1980 to 2000

On 12 September 1980 the military seized power in Turkey and the five generals (General Staff)

announced martial law in all of the then existing 67provinces. Members of armed and unarmed left and

right organizations that had been engaged in bitter fighting were charged at military courts and in some

places held in military prisons. The military prison Mamak in Ankara, Metris Prison (in Istanbul) and the

prison in Diyarbakır[4]

(often calleddungeon) gained notoriety.

Because of the large number of prisoners new prisons were built. In a report of November 1988, Amnesty

International said that the number of prisons had increased to 644 and their capacity had been raised

from 55,000 to more than 80,000.[5]

Since 1986 relatives of prisoners organized in the Human Rights

Association (HRA) or in groups in solidarity with certain prisoners such as TAYAD).[6]

With their help the

prisoners tried to make their demands for improved prison conditions for which they frequently went

on hunger strike (often also called death fast) public.

In April 1991 Law 3713 on Fighting Terrorism (called Anti-Terror-Law, ATL) was passed. Article 16

provided that all prisoners charged under this law had to be held in high security prisons.

The time since 2000

In 1996 the political prisoners succeeded in their objection to be transferred to the first high security

prison in Eskişehir (it was called "special type prison"). Their death fast resulted in the death of 12

prisoners. In 2000 a similar action against the high security prisons (now called F-type Prisons) was not

successful, although the death toll was much higher.[7]

There are currently 13 F-type prisons (14, if the

prison on İmralı Island is added) and two D-type prisons (also high security prisons).

Facts and figures

According to the General Directorate for Penal and Arrest Centres (Ceza ve Tevkifevleri Genel

Müdürlüğü, part of the Ministry of Justice) 384 prisons existed in Turkey as of 1 December 2008. 346 of

them were closed and 28 were open prisons. In addition there were three closed and one open prison for

women and three correctional centres for children. For the same date the number of prisoners was given

as 103,296; among them 44,038 on remand and 59,258 convicts.

On the homepage of the General Directorate for Penal and Arrest Centres figures on prisoners can be

found on the number of prisoners for each year. The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey has included

such figures in their annual reports.[8]

Year

Convicted On remand

Total

Ordinary "Terror" Sum Ordinary "Terror" Sum

1990 27,731 1,642 29,373 14,488 1,745 16,233 45,606

1991 10,652 395 11,047 14,760 1,044 15,804 26,851

1992 12,301 522 12,823 15,597 3,062 18,659 31,482

1993 14,300 847 15,147 14,681 4,977 19,658 34,805

1994 15,787 1,094 16,881 15,638 6,412 22,050 38,931

1995 20,371 1,637 22,008 17,058 7,025 24,083 46,091

1996 24,651 2,328 26,979 17,697 6,207 23,904 50,883

1997 32,155 4,179 36,334 19,346 4,926 24,272 60,606

1998 31,647 4,239 35,886 19,670 4,835 24,505 60,391

1999 37,986 6,145 44,131 19,953 3,497 23,450 67,581

2000 20,378 4,467 24,855 20,467 4,190 24,657 49,512

2001 22,425 5,116 27,541 24,886 3,182 28,068 55,609

2002 25,514 5,123 30,637 25,928 2,622 28,550 59,187

2003 28,554 4,161 32,715 29,605 1,976 31,581 64,296

2004 23,840 2,170 26,010 30,302 1,618 31,920 57,930

2005 22,765 2,093 24,858 29,475 1,537 31,012 55,870

2006 24,220 2,116 26,336 42,222 1,719 44,141 70,477

2007 34,852 2,418 37,608 47,091 2,102 53,229 90,837

2008 42,234 2,540 45,207 50,470 2,899 58,028 103,235

Meanwhile the statistics also include the category "crimes to increase profit" (tr: çıkar amaçlı suçlar,

meaning organized crime, punishable according to Article 220 of the Turkish Penal Code). Since

2010 the cases that could not be attributed to a specific group were also included.[9]

Years Convicted On remand

Ordinary Terror Organized Unclear Sum Ordinary Terror Organized Unclear Sum Total

2009 53067 2967 547

56581 52512 3361 3886

59759 116340

2010 80440 3682 993 1451 86566 29676 2535 1566 471 34238 120814

2011 86542 4179 907 989 92617 29901 4266 1372 448 35987 128604

On 31 January 2010 the official figures were:[10]

Year

Convicted On remand

Total

Ordinary "Terror" Sum Ordinary "Terror" Sum

2010 53,805 3,051 56,856 57,024 3,254 60,691 117,547

The following figures were presented for 31 March 2012:[11]

Group On remand Under review Convicted Total

Ordinary 29,890 17,597 72,022 119.509

Terror 4,643 481 3,846 8,970

Organized crime 1,283 389 522 2,194

Unspecified 457 42 1,197 1,696

Total 36.273 18,509 77,587 132.369

In June 2010 Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin answered a question tabled by Batman

deputy Bengi Yıldız. He stated that between 2010 and 2015 a total of 86 new prisons

with a capacity of 40.026 prisoners were to be built.[12]

Prison types

Using the official material of the General Directorate for Penal and Arrest Centres the

Democratic Turkey Forum prepared a table on prisons in Turkey as of October 2008.

Further details have been included as "particulars".

Sinop E-type Prison

Type Number Capacity

(single)

Capacity

(complete) Particulars

A 21 24-30 792

Prisons built in district between the 1950s and 1970s. There are

4 wards (koğuş), bathroom, kitchen, library and a conference

hall.

A1 16 24-40 508 Further to type A: there are two cells and room next to the

wards that can be used as a kitchen.

A2 17 40 744 5 wards and 2 disciplinary cells.

A3 31 60 2,295 6 wards.

B 16 64 1,068 7 wards and 2 disciplinary cells; each ward has its own exercise

yard (havalandırma).

C 7 164-300 1,696 8 wards and 4 disciplinary cells.

D 2 750 1,732

11 blocks, one block for administration; 230 rooms (cells).

Block E is for communal use (laundry, library etc.). The lower

floors of block H and L consist of disciplinary cells. The first

and second floor of block G have 10 rooms each for observation

(müşahade) on arrival. This block also has two infirmaries with

10 beds each. These prisons are built on the system of

individual cells and cells for three people.

E[13]

45 600-1,000 29,753

Built on two floors based on the ward (koğuş) system and later

changed to rooms for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 persons. Each room has

its own exercise yard. The lower floors are for eating; the upper

floors are the dormitories.

F 13 368 4,966 See F-type Prisons (Turkey)

H 5 500 3,255 Built on two floors on the room (cell) system. There are 200

individual cells and 100 cells for 3 persons.

K1 83 60 3553 They are found in districts with 4 wards and 2 disciplinary cells.

Each ward has its own exercise yard.

K2 24 60-150 1,446 Like type K1 with 6 wards and 2 disciplinary cells.

L 16

15,084

Closed prisons, built in big cities in place of old prisons. There

are units for 7 people measuring 208.93 m2(2,248.9 sq ft) in

total, cells have 12.45 m2 (134.0 sq ft), exercise yards have

165.19 m2 (1,778.1 sq ft) and common living space is

56.59 m2 (609.1 sq ft). Cells are closed at night; during the day

7 prisoners are together. There are 61 units for 7 people, 4

rooms for 3 people and 40 individual cells.

M 24

9,107

These prisons that were built on two floors in the ward system,

cells for 4, 6, 8, 10 people were made. Each room has its own

exercise yard. The prisons have 6 disciplinary cells.

T[14]

4 616 6,277

They were built in big cities in place of old prisons. There are

72 rooms for 8 prisoners, 8 rooms for 3 prisoners and 16

individual cells of 16 sqm. The (living and sleeping) room for 3

people measures 27 m2(290 sq ft). The sleeping space for 8

people (upper floor) is 28 m2 (300 sq ft) and the living space

(lower floor) 32.5 m2 (350 sq ft). For the exercise 8 people have

a yard of 35 m2 (380 sq ft) und 3 people of 30 m

2(320 sq ft).

The sports hall measures 494 m2 (5,320 sq ft) and outside

251 m2 (2,700 sq ft). There is space for 450 people during open

visits and 36 people for closed visits. Room for 32 lawyers

meeting their clients exists.

F(o) 1 350 350 open prison for women

F(c) Paşakapısı

closed prison for women; Paşakapısı and Bakırköy are in

Istanbul

Bakırköy 506

construction started in 2008; 38 units for 12 people each; 2 units

for 3 people and 44 individual cells.

Sincan 352

District close to Ankara, 24 units for 12 people each, 12 units

for 3 people each, 28 individual cells.

K(c) 3

366 closed prison for children

K(e) 3 100-250 360

education centre for children; juveniles aged 12 to 18 are held

here. In case an education was continuing at the age of 18

permission can be given to stay longer (up to the age of 21).

(c) 23

6,277

(o) 28

6,405

(o) 38

2,617

Comments of international institutions

Besides NGOs such as Amnesty International or Human Rights

Watch the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or

Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has frequently dealt with the situation in

Turkish prisons. A major concern were the F-type prisons, the high security prisons

that the CPT encouraged Turkey to build.[15]

and the situation on the island İmralı,

where Abdullah Öcalan has been the only prisoner since 1999.

On 6 March 2008 a report was published on a visit to the island between 19 and 22

May 2007.[16]

This was the fourth visit. In conclusion the CPT said (in para 31.):

Abdullah Öcalan has now been imprisoned, as the sole inmate of the High-Security

Closed Prison of Imralı - an island which is difficult to reach - for almost eight and a

half years. Although the situation of indisputable isolation to which the prisoner has

been subjected since 16 February 1999 has had adverse effects over the years, the

CPT's previous visits had not revealed significant harmful consequences for his

physical and psychological condition. This assessment must now be revised, in the

light of the evolution of Abdullah Öcalan's physical and mental condition."

During visits to other facilities the CPT marked certain shortcomings. The report of 8

December 2005[17]

(on a visit in 2004), for instance, included the following

recommendations:

staff at Izmir (Buca) Closed Prison and the E-type prisons in Aydın and

Gaziantep to be given a firm reminder that the ill-treatment of inmates is not

acceptable and will be the subject of severe sanctions; it should be made clear

to them that prisoners who breach discipline must be dealt with exclusively in

accordance with existing disciplinary procedures and that any form of unofficial

punishment will not be tolerated (paragraph 50).

the Turkish authorities to take all necessary steps to develop the communal

activity programmes at Izmir F-type Prison No. 1, in terms of both the range of

activities on offer and the number of prisoners engaging in those activities; in

this connection, the remarks made in paragraphs 57 and 58 to be taken fully

into account (paragraph 59);

immediate steps to be taken to ensure that every prisoner at Aydın and

Gaziantep E-type Prisons has his/her own bed (paragraph 63);

the necessary steps to be taken to ensure that occupancy rates in all prisoner

accommodation units at Aydın and Gaziantep E-type Prisons are of a

reasonable level (paragraph 63);

the level of hygiene in prisoner accommodation areas at Gaziantep E-type

Prison to be reviewed (paragraph 63).

See also

List of prisons in Turkey

External links

Website of the General Directorate for Prisons (Turkish)

CPT on Turkey

Democratic Turkey Forum Daily, weekly and special reports on human rights in

Turkey in German, English and Turkish

MrZine-Monthly Review An article on the prison population and conditions in

Turkey