Arrested Students in Istanbul Deprived of Family and Education
protest
A group of 201 students are spending the holiday in prison after participating in protests against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) operation. Most of them are being held in Silivri’s Marmara Prison, in facilities numbered 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 and women’s prisons. These young detainees, many of them university students, face restrictions on education, communication with families, and access to essential medications.
Lawyer Havva Deli, who recently visited the students in Silivri, shared her observations with Cumhuriyet:
“Most of them are in good psychological condition because they know they are innocent and right. However, most of them have traces of beatings during detention. Some have bruises on their faces and some on their bodies.”
She also emphasized the difficulties students encounter when trying to obtain money and medicine from the prison canteen:
“The medicine problem needs to be solved as soon as possible. There are students who need to take their medication within the scope of psychological support, and there are students who need to use eye drops because their eyes are bleeding due to being beaten.”
Deli noted the detainees’ resilience and hope, but highlighted certain concerns:
“Right now they don’t have their notes and books with them. They are asking us for their notes. They do not want to stay away from their education. Another concern they have is being forgotten. The visits are a great morale booster for them.”
CHP Istanbul MP Ali Gökçek, who visited the imprisoned students on consecutive days, said he is closely following their situation. Gökçek pointed out that allegations of hygiene issues in overcrowded wards and ill-treatment by common criminals were particularly linked to B-1 ward in Prison No. 3:
“The people in this ward demanded to be transferred to the B-5 ward. We have conveyed this request to the prison director. He said he would take care of the situation, we are following this issue as well.”
Calling these young detainees “the bright future of the country,” Gökçek added:
“We stand by them. We visit them every day and talk to the authorities about their situation. Our student friends are never unclaimed.”
Despite facing alleged beatings, limited access to medication, and hurdles to continuing their studies, these students remain determined not to be forgotten, drawing strength from each other and from visits by supporters.