Human Rights in Turkey
Rights Violations in Conditional Release and Probation Practices – Melike Göksu

Profile

VICTIM : Melike Göksu
INCIDENT : The prisoner’s conditional release was postponed for the fourth time, delaying her release by another nine months.
LOCATION : Ankara, Turkey
SITUATION : Sentenced to 7 years and 16 months in prison on allegations of “membership in an organization.”

Case Summary

Melike Göksu, who had been elected Co-Mayor of Karayazı Municipality in Erzurum, was prosecuted on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization.” Göksu was first detained in 2017 and released after spending five months in prison. Following the Court of Cassation’s decision to uphold her conviction, she was re-arrested in 2022 and sent back to prison. Although she completed the required portion of her sentence to qualify for release, her conditional release was blocked for the fourth time on May 21 and postponed for another nine months. Allegations were raised that the Prison Administration and Observation Board discriminated against political prisoners and acted as though it were a court by reassessing prisoners beyond its authority. A relative of Göksu, who had been released from Aksaray Cezaevi on April 14, stated that Göksu was subjected to a biased evaluation by the board because she was considered a political prisoner.

Source

Contact

Sincan Women Closed Penal Institution

Phone: 0 (312) 589 51 01

Mail: ankara.kadkcik@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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