MAZLUMDER’s (The Association for Human Rights and Solidarity for the Oppressed) Halime GULSU report: Halime Gulsu’s right to live has been violated!
BOLD – The report of MAZLUM DER regarding the death of Halime Gülsu who was arrested for organizing a charity to help the KHK families (who have lost their jobs with the decree-law) and died in prison was announced to the public.
In the report on the death of Halime Gülsu, prepared by MAZLUM DER with a wide range of expert staff; it was concluded that the public authority violated Gülsu’s right to life.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR MONTHS
Halime Gülsu was detained on February 20, 2018, within the scope of the operations against the Hizmet Movement by the Anti-Terrorism Branch Directorate. The charges against women detained together with Gulsu was helping the terrorist organization. Gulsu and most of her friends were taken into custody while organizing charity to help the KHK families whose husbands were in custody.
The charity was considered as an organization to support the terrorist group. Gulsu was detained in the custody for 12 days and then arrested as a result of a request by the Mersin magistrates’ court on March 3, 2018, with the claim of being a member of a terrorist organization. Halime Gulsu died due to the reason for not having her medication in full and on time and to not being treated.
In her last letter before her death, Halime Gülsu gave a striking description of how the disease step by step became mortal due to the prevention of the right to treatment, the absence of medication and poor prison conditions.
A delegation consisting of Mazlumder Adana Branch President Mehmet Ali Önal, Mazlumder Deputy Chairman Orhan Göktaş, and Mazlumder Adana Branch Deputy Attorney Ali Çaldır prepared a report as to the allegations of negligence and intentions related to Halime Gulsu’s death.
PUBLIC AUTHORITY VIOLATED HALIME GULSU’S RIGHT TO LIVE
In the report which was worked on for months, Halime Gülsu’s family, a friend from the ward were interviewed; Hospital data, Forensic Medicine reports, petitions given by Gülsu to the administration of the prison were examined. MAZLUM DER was also contacted the prison authorities and hospital officials, and in the light of all these reports, concluded that the public authority violated Halime Gülsu’s right to life.
CONCLUSION SECTION OF THE REPORT
The conclusion of MAZLUMDER’s report as follows:
- In the examination we conducted with our physician members, Halime Gülsu (SLE – Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) is a fatal disease if the disease is not controlled with medication
- Considering the letters of Halime Gülsu’s documents in the investigation file, the testimony of Halime Gülsu’s brother, the testimony of the person with whom she stayed in the custody and the prison ward, Halime Gülsu ‘s long-term detention in custody, and during the custody some of the drugs are not provided in time.
- She was arrested even though she stated her illness in the police and the prosecutor’s statement.
- During her detention and imprisonment, she was not treated for SLE, and her disease progressed, and the cause of death as a result of cardiac arrest due to SLE disease.
- Although Halime Gülsu was referred to the hospital by the prison doctor several times, it was determined that Tarsus State Hospital, which has no rheumatology service, was referred Halime Gulsu to Mersin City Hospital late and she was not admitted to the hospital.
It is an indisputable fact that the right to life is the most basic human right accepted by all legal systems. The Constitution of The Republic of Turkey has kept the state shall take the necessary measures and measures for the protection of human life.
In this context, Halime Gulsu’s detention and the absence of medication in the period of detention, although she had declared her illness at the time of the investigation she was detained, in view of the lack of needed treatment or not at all, the death of Halime Gülsu was realized with the flaw of the public authority which could be described as
“VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT OF LIFE.”
Halime Gülsu in specific, it is clear that the issue is a system problem, and that the legal, political and social conjuncture supports or undermines the unlawful act of the administrative and judicial authorities.
Halima Gülsu’s case is in Turkey prisons among one of the grievances that are being encountered. In a similar situation, it is necessary to protect the right to life and health of detainees and convicts in prisons, especially women and children, and to make legal arrangements to ensure this.