Duygu Erol / JINHA

ANKARA - The first rights abuses after State of Emergency declared in Turkey took places against political prisoners with bans on the right of prisoners to communicate. This situation recalls the rights abuses to mind in prisons during military coup in September 12, 1980.

After "coup attempt" on July 15, President Tayyip Erdoğan made statement following the meeting of the National Security Council (MGK) and he announced that they decided to declare three-month state of emergency (OHAL). After being published in official gazette, the state of emergency motion approved by Parliamnet with 346 "Yes" votes.

The first rights abuses after "coup attempt" on July 15 have begun with bans on the right of political prisoners to communicate. The rights of political prisoners to communicate with familiy' members and lawyers and call were banned after coup attempt and the bans were lifted on July 19. After the decision of state of emergency the bans have been imposed again. This situation recalls the rights abuses, tortures and deaths to mind in prisons during military coup in September 12, 1980.

"What happened on September 12, 1980?"

State of Emergency begun to be imposed in Kurdistan on 1983 was lifted in 2002. September 12 meant that being isolated from world for days and being questioning by various torture methods. During the military coup, detentions period were extended to 30 days from 15 days after military coup and people were tortured during this period. The changes after military coup in 1980 were as follow;

*The maximum detention period during state of emergency was extended to 30 days on September 17, 1980.

*30-day detention period was extended to 90 days on November 7, 1980.

*90-day detention period was reduced to 45 days on September 5, 1981.

*45-day detention period was reduced to 30 days on May 30, 1985.

*Detention period was reduced to 15 days in regions managed as usual on June 17, 1985.

* Maximum detention period for people who were tried by State Security Courts (DGM) was reduced to 7 days, in the state of emergency regions it was reduced to 15 days.

* Maximum detention period for people who were tried by State Security Courts (DGM) was reduced to 4 days, in the state of emergency regions it was reduced to 7 days.

After long-term detention period, the prisoners who had been sent diffirent prisons and rights abuses were practiced in the prisons, too. Thousands of people, who were held in prisons, were faced severe torture and the rights of political prisoners to communicate with familiy' members and lawyers and call were banned. As the decision of death penaty were demanded for thousands of people, tens of people were put to death following military coup on September 12, 1980. The rights abuses in prisons were as follows;

"Death penaty were demanded for seven thousands people. 517 people got the death penalty. 50 of them were put to death. 300 people died questionably. 171 people tortured to death and that has been documented. Totally 299 people died in prisons. 14 people died during hunger strikes. 16 people were killed while triying to flee, 95 people were shot to death in clahses. 98,404 people were tried with charges of "being a member of an armed terrorist organization". 43 people were claimed to "kill themselves."

The AKP power did politics by saying, "We lifted state of emergency and martial law." However, they declared state of emergency just after "coup attempt". Vice Prime Minister Numan Kurtuluş made a statement after the montion presented in the parliament. He said that European Convention on Human Rights would be suspended during the state of emergency.

Rights abuses in prisons since July 15 are as follows;

*Rights of prisoners in Sincan F Type Prison and Bursa Prison to communicate have been suspended.

*Prisoners will not be released until further notice.

*Female prisoners in Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison were battered in front of their visitors by guards.

*Three prisoners in İzmir Kırıklar F Type Closed Prison were battered arbitrarily by guards.

(sy/gd)