Human Rights
in Turkey
Critically Ill Prisoners in Turkish Prisons: Civan Boltan

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VICTIM : Civan Boltan
INCIDENT : Despite the execution court ruling it unlawful, the 11-day solitary confinement penalty imposed on the seriously ill prisoner on the grounds of his books and notes was upheld following the prosecutor’s objection.
LOCATION : Bolu, Turkey
SITUATION : He was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment on charges of PKK membership and involvement in a bomb attack.

Case Summary

 In Bolu F-Type Prison, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against an inmate on the grounds of books, notes, and writings found in his cell; he was sentenced to 11 days in solitary confinement on charges of “making propaganda for an organization.” The inmate’s mother objected to the punishment, stating that her son was ill, missing one of his hands, had impaired vision, and carried numerous shrapnel fragments in his body, making it impossible for him to take care of himself alone in a solitary cell. She also emphasized that the books had been approved and allowed inside by the prison administration, and therefore a solitary confinement sentence could not be justified. The inmate’s lawyer challenged the decision, arguing that the punishment was unlawful and that imposing solitary confinement for possessing books constituted a violation of freedom of thought and expression. The Enforcement Court found the disciplinary sanction unlawful and annulled it, but following an appeal by the prosecutor’s office, the punishment was upheld. It was underlined that the existence of contradictory rulings in the same case—one court finding the sanction unlawful and another deeming it procedurally valid—created a conflict undermining the principles of legal certainty and foreseeability in the judiciary.

Souce

Contact

Bolu Type F High Security Closed Penal Institution

Phone: 0 (374) 245 12 01 / 0 506 600 61 14

Mail:  bolu.ftcik@adalet.gov.tr 

General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses

Phone: (0312) 507 04 00 – (0312) 507 04 01

Mail: cte@adalet.gov.tr 

Ministry of Justice – Republic of Türkiye

Phone: +90 (0312) 417 77 70

Mail: info@adalet.gov.tr

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