URFA - Stating that she hasn't been able to visit her son for two years, Beyaz Çiftçi, mother of seriously ill prisoner journalist Ferhat Çiftçi, and demanded the release of the ill prisoners.

 

Antep Representative of Azadiya Welat Newspaper, which was closed with a Statutory Decree (KHK), Ferhat Çiftçi was sentenced to 19 years and 8 months in prison by Adana 6th High Criminal Court on February 16, 2011 on charges of "membership of a terrorist organisation" and "propagandising for a terrorist organisation". Çiftçi, who is being held in Tekirdağ No. 1 Type F Closed Prison, gave information about his health in a letter he sent to the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG). In his letter, Çiftçi stated that in early May 2021, he started experiencing health problems that started with joint and muscle pain, severe nausea, loss of balance, smell and taste, and then lost almost all bodily functions.

 

HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CIDP

 

Stating that he could not meet his own needs, Çiftçi stated that until September, doctors from different branches had repeatedly examined him, did tests and analyzes, and that he was diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneurotherapy (CIDP) after the EMG test. Çifçi said, "As a result of this disease, loss of balance, loss of sensation, nausea, difficulty in breathing, loss of taste and smell, serious deterioration in movement coordination and many other negativities occured. Because of the risks of the medicine, it should be administered under the surveillence of a doctor and in a hospital. After medication, I recovered a little. I have been on cortisone treatment for 5 months following the medication. I am still on this drug. But the treatment with this drug is also very challenging. Steroid drugs called cortisone suppress the immune system and prevent or reduce the body's production of antibodies against its own cells. My immune system produces antibodies against nerve cells, that is, it works in reverse. This drug also has many side effects; myolysis, osteolysis, depression, stress, chills, hot flashes, mental problems, etc. In short, the disease itself and its treatment are challenging." 

 

MOTHER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO VISIT HER SON FOR 2 YEARS 

 

Journalist Çiftçi's mother, Beyaz Çiftçi, said that her son's condition is getting worse by day by. She was able to visit her son first in Antep and then in Urfa Prison. She has not been able to visit her son for two years after he was transferred to Tekirdağ Prison.  Mother Çiftçi said, "If they are not releasing my son, I want him to be transferred to a prison nearby. At least I can go to visit him."

 

TREMOR IN ÇİFTÇİ'S HANDS

 

Stating that his son, who called him last week, said that his son was constantly depressed and he had tremors, the mother said, "He can't eat. I haven't been able to visit him for 2 years. The prison is too far away, I can't go visit him because I'm ill. My son doesn't want me to visit him because I am ill. He says I will die on the way. He knows very well that I have diabetes and high blood pressure and that I cannot travel. My son submitted an application to be transferred to another prison, but it was not accepted. Ill prisoners must be released. I want my son to be released as soon as possible." 

 

Çiftçi called on the authorities to release the ill prisoners.

 

 

 

MA / Müjdat Can