VAN - Muhlis Demir, son of 68 year old Payiz Demir, a prisoner being held in Van Type T Prison said: "The rapists, thieves and murderers are being released, why don't they release people over 65? Where is equality, justice and conscience?"

 

One of the prisoners left for dead in prisons after the new law on executiın is 68 year old Payiz Demir. Her son Muhlis Demir stating that they are more concerned after the statements of Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gül telling 120 prisoners in 4 prisons are now infected, said: "The rapists, thieves and murderers are being released, why don't they release people over 65? Where is equality, justice and conscience?"

 

Demir was arrested on charges of 'being a member of an illegal organization in 2012 and released in December the same year. She was re- arrested in 2019 when the Supreme Court ruled against her and sent to Van Type T Closed Prison on March. Demir has health issues due to his old age.

 

Sharing their concern due to the epidemic, Muhsin Demir said: "My mother is 68 years old, she can not survive in prison. She has constant headaches, issues with her stomach and arthiritis. She shouldn't have been in prison under normal conditions, but she is being held there despite the outbreak. The rapists, thieves and murderers are being released, why don't they release people over 65? Where is equality, justice and conscience?"

 

Demir reminding of the statement made by the Minister of Justice, said: "This is really concerning. They banned the people over 65 from going out but my mother is 68 and she is in prison. We know the hygiene conditions in prison. We know taht they can't go out in the yard. Therefore, in the person of my mother, we demand all prisoners over 65 to be released. They should be equal and fair during such an epidemic and evacuate the prisons."