280 inmates in Turkey committed suicide in 5 years

Turkey’s Ministry of Justice has responded to a question of independent MP Aylin Nazlıaka about the suicide cases in prisons between the years of 2011-2016.

According to date shared by the Ministry with MP Nazlıaka, 280 inmates committed suicide throughout these 5 years.

While 7 of them were children between the ages of 12-17, 27 of them were between 18-21; and, the remaining were over 21 years old.

Calling on the government to take on responsibility, Nazlıaka said the ‘prisons in Turkey have turned into coffins’ and added: “The burden of these citizens who committed suicide is on the shoulder of the government. During recent visits I conducted to the prisons, I have found out that restrictions have increased with the excuse of state of emergency and the inmates are being subjected to indirect psychological torture. Those who have closed their ears and eyes have apparently been applying their policies in prisons, as well. The government, which takes pride in owning the biggest prison of Europe, has created a picture of shame for us and built prisons that have turned into coffins.”

Source: https://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/cezaevlerinde-5-yilda-280-intihar-163675.html