Prisoners who were arrested under the "anti-terrorist laws" must be released immediately

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP), the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR), and several other signatories have sent an appeal to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to the entire Turkish government, and to all members of the Grand National Assembly. In this appeal, the two human rights organizations demand an immediate release of all political prisoners and prisoners on remand.

The appeal emphasizes that prisoners are particularly at risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic – which is affecting more and more people also in Turkey – as they live in extremely cramped and often unhygienic conditions in the prisons, so that it is usually impossible for them to maintain a necessary safe distance and observe the hygiene rules. Their access to medical care is limited as well. If there was a disease outbreak in a prison, countless lives would be in danger.

The signatories welcome the fact that the Turkish government plans to release up to 100,000 prisoners. However, a corresponding bill would exclude the release of prisoners detained under the "anti-terrorism laws" as well as prisoners on remand and convicts with pending appeal proceedings. However, these include political, legal, journalistic and human rights prisoners and critical intellectuals. They, too, would have to be released, be of any danger if they were to be set free. On the contrary: The ISHR and the STP emphasized that an amnesty could, at the present time, be seen as "a sign of national unity and solidarity between all ethnic groups" in the face of such a monumental challenge. In freedom, these people could make an important contribution to strengthening the Turkish economy and promoting public health in the country.

At the same time, this measure would relieve pressure on the judicial system and thus help to keep the remaining prisoners and the security personnel safe. A humanitarian catastrophe could thus be averted. On the part of the Turkish state, this measure would free resources that are urgently needed to ensure sufficient healthcare for the Turkish society during the coming months.

The appeal, including a list of the signatories, can be downloaded here.