Profile
VICTIM : Emin Güler
INCIDENT : A 94% disabled inmate was denied release after his officially recognized disability rate was reduced.
LOCATION : Elazığ, Turkey
SITUATION : Sentenced to 11 years and 10 months in prison on charges of “membership in an organization.”
Case Summary
The release of Emin Güler, a 94% physically disabled inmate held in Elazığ R-Type Prison, was postponed for three months by a decision of the Prison Administrative Observation Board. Güler’s health condition continues to deteriorate under prison conditions. Due to an injury in the C5 spinal region, he has become hemiplegic and lost control over one side of his body. As a result of the paralysis, he experiences great difficulty moving his arm and leg, walking, sitting, or performing basic daily activities, and depends entirely on the assistance of other inmates. He has also been diagnosed with Hepatitis C, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and advanced vertigo (a balance disorder). The formation of air cavities in his lungs causes severe shortness of breath and significantly limits his respiratory capacity. Güler cannot sustain himself independently in prison and relies on fellow inmates for essential care and daily needs. The physical structure of the Urfa prison building—with its multiple stairways—and inadequate hygiene conditions have further aggravated his health problems. Applications for his release were rejected on the basis of a medical report from Urfa Mehmet Akif İnan Training and Research Hospital, which stated that he was “fit to remain in prison.” Due to his worsening condition, he was later transferred to Erzincan L-Type Closed Prison. Despite earlier medical reports confirming a 94% disability rate, a subsequent report issued by the Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) reduced this rate to 76%. His family continues to call for his immediate release, emphasizing that his severe disabilities make continued imprisonment incompatible with basic human rights and the right to life.
Souce
Contact
Elazığ Type R Closed Penal Institution
Phone: 0424 248 24 65 – 0424 247 73 88
Mail:
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