Mahmut Karabulut who was taken into custody with the accusation of 'being a member of an illegal organization' in Mersin in 2016, was kept under custody for 8 days and then got arrested and sent to Mersin Type E Closed Prison. According to his statement, he was battered by 40 to 50 guards who raided their ward on his first day in prison and his hair was forcibly shaved along with those in the ward.

 

Afterwards, a disciplinary investigation was initiated by the prison administration along with other friends in the ward and he had a disciplinary punishment of a one day solitary confinement.Their complaint about the guards, such as the rejection of their requests to recieve reports from the doctor, were not processed.

 

Karabulut who stayed in Mersin Type E Closed Prison was exiled to Ermenek Type M Closed Prison after a while. He was subjected to the attacks of the guards there again, has stayed there for 8 months and acquitted from all charges after 8 months.

 

Following his release, he filed a criminal complaint about 6 guards to the 3rd Penal Court of Peace for 'abuse of power', 'simple injury', 'insult' and 'ill treatment'. Karabulut who was not able to receieve a positive response to his applications to the Ministry of Justice, wants to get results in his legal struggle continuing for 2 years.

 

Karabulut stating that his legal struggle is actually a struggle for democracy, adding that torture continues in prisons, said: "They say there is zero tolerance to torture in prisons. This is definately not true. We have been acquitted from all charges and they got away with torturing us. Torture is a crime against humanity. They will not get away with it. I will continue fighting until the torturers are punished."

 

MA / Ergin Çağlar