ANKARA - 12 women prisoners, including DTK Co-Chair Leyla Güven, who protested against the conspiracy against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, have been given disciplinary penalties. 

 

Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chair Leyla Güven and 12 women prisoners in Sincan Women's Closed Prison were given disciplinary penalties for protesting against the conspiracy on the anniversary of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Ocalan being brought to Turkey through an international conspiracy. The Prison Disciplinary Board convened after the protest with slogans and sentenced Leyla Güven, Zelal Bilgin, Elif Çetinbaş, Melike Göksu, Saadet Akın, Selver Yıldırım, Özlem Demir, Emine Abiş, Rihan Kavak Özbek, Zeliha Ustabaş to deprivation of communication, Fatma Aslan and Sevim Ekin to deprivation of visitors for one month. 

 

'UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE'

 

Prisoners appealed to Ankara West 2nd Execution Judgeship against the decision taken on 7 March. The judge rejected the appeal on 25 June. The judge's reason for the rejection was that "the report kept by an official is valid until the contrary is proved". 

 

Upon the rejection, the lawyers applied to Ankara West 1st Assize Court. The court rejected the appeal on 25 July on the same grounds. 

 

THEIR RIGHTS ARE VIOLATED

 

Dilan Kunt Ayan, MP of Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party Riha (Urfa), took the incidents to the Human Rights Investigation Commission (IHIK) of the Parliament. Dilan Kunt Ayan drew attention to the report kept on the prisoners and stated that the report was prepared by only one guard and a decision was made based on it. She pointed out that CCTV footage was not analysed and witness statements were not made. Drawing attention to international conventions and judgements, Dilan Kunt Ayan emphasised that the decision is against the law in terms of procedure and substance. Dilan Kunt Ayan noted that the prisoners' right to freedom of expression and personal freedom as well as their right to security were violated.