Cengiz Eker, who is being held in Izmir High Security Prison No. 3 and is on the list of seriously ill prisoners of the Human Rights Association (IHD), has been postponed twice despite his conditional release expiring on September 22, 2023. 

 

Prisoner Eker was detained in 1993 during a house raid by soldiers in Berî village in the center of Îdir (Iğdır). He was detained in front of the villagers and severely tortured. Later, he was brought to Erzurum State Security Court (DGM) where he was sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of “disrupting the unity and integrity of the state”. Eker completed his sentence on September 22, 2023, and although he was not taken before the Prison Administration and Observation Board, his release was postponed twice for 6 months each, on the grounds that he was not in “good behavior”.  

 

Eker, who has 3 blocked arteries and heart failure, has had three angioplasties and three stents. Eker, who suffers from reflux, gastritis, three lung wounds and shortness of breath, also underwent prostate surgery.

 

Eker's son Emrah Eker said that his father was first arrested in Iğdır Prison and then began a life of exile. “My father was constantly sent to distant prisons. Since we were all prisoners' families, we were stopped many times at military checkpoints and our identities were checked. Once, when we were going to Kalkandere for a visit, they attacked us because they recognized our license plate number. These attacks were organized. For these reasons, we could not go to see my father, who was in Rize Kalkandere for two years. He has been in Izmir for the last five years. I was able to visit him 3 times during this period. My mother cannot travel to distant places due to her illnesses” he said. 

 

 'THEY ARE TRYING TO SUBJUGATE HIM'

 

Expressing that his father is a ill prisoner and that it is unlawful to delay his release in this way, “Despite all this, my father gives morale to his friends. My father was arbitrarily denied release before the last board. After 30 years, why would anyone regret it?” he asked.  

 

Expressing the importance of a joint struggle for ill prisoners, Eker said: “This problem is not only Kurdish people’s problem, but also problem for everyone in this country. No one should say 'Let sleeping dogs lie’. Tomorrow this problem will touch them too. This is a social issue and should be approached as such. Let's join hands and solve this problem for the ill prisoners and those whose execution has been burned and whose release has been postponed.”