On 27th January 2010, Seher Akçay who is Abdullah Akçay’s sister applied to the Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch asking for our help about health problems of Abdullah Akçay (born in 1992 in Dargeçit in Mardin) who is leukaemia and remained in prison department of Okmeydanı SSK Hospital.
Abdullah Akçay, who was arrested when he was 14 and being charged with several robbery crimes, were condemned with robbery crimes under at least 12 trials. After his placement to Maltepe Child Prison, he was taken ill. Abdullah Akçay was too lately diagnosed with leukaemia. He was replaced from Maltepe Prison to Silivri Prison because he turned to 18 in May.
Right after prison doctor sent him to hospital and decided to begin his medical treatment, Avdullah Akçay started to have his chemotherapy treatment in a small, unaired and isolated (with security reasons) place called detention ward with lack of enough and necessary nutrition and hygiene condition. At first his condition could not respond to treatment. After a few chemotherapy sessions, his health condition partly improved. Yet, as his sickness is a high risk leukaemia, his rate of hematocrit sometimes decreased and sometimes increased.
First thing IHD Istanbul Branch did after the application is that Abdullah was visited with permission of his family because he is a minor. After meeting with hospital authorities, the IHD Istanbul Branch sent letters to the President, the Ministry of Justice, the Prisons and Penitentiaries General Directorate and the President of the Human Rights Inquiry Committee of the Parliament by calling for sensibility to establish necessary conditions and set him free in order to regain his health regarding yet he is a child. Moreover, human right defenders and his family started to protest in front of Okmeydanı SSK Hospital starting from 9 February 2010 every friday in order to get attention on his situation. The protests are still going on.
Abdullah Akçay was transferred to Forensic Medicine Institution on March 4, 2010. Yet although four month passed after this transfer, his forensic report has not been prepared. Moreover, histocompatibility testing for marrow transplant showed that his tissue is compatible with his sister’s and brother’ tissues. In this circumstance, he had to be transferred to Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty Hospital for marrow transplant, but he had not been transferred. On June 14, 2010, an official from IHD Istanbul branch made a meeting with his doctor. The doctor claimed that there is nothing to do for him after now and he has only two more months to live. The doctor also added that if he was not in prison, he could be sent to his home. Additionally, Okmeydanı SSK Hospital has not yet given a report mentioning that “Akçay cannot stay in prison, caused by his health condition”.
We, Human Right Association, are expecting your supports to our urgent action call for release of Abdullah Akçay.
Addresses:
• President of Turkey, Mr. Abdullah Gül, Cumhurbaskanligi 06100 Ankara, Turkey; Fax: +90 312 468 5026; Email: cumhurbaskanligi@tccb.gov.tr
• Prime Minister, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Office of the Prime Minister Basbakanlik 06573 Ankara, Turkey, Fax: + 90 312 417 0476; receptayyip.erdogan@basbakanlik.gov.tr
• Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister for Human Rights, Mr. Cemil Çiçek Fax: 00 90 312 417 42 06
• Interior Minister, Mr. Beşir Atalay, Ministry of Interior, Içisleri Bakanligi, 06644 Ankara, Turkey; Fax: + 90 312 418 17 95 / +90 312 418 7696, besir.atalay@icisleri.gov.tr
• Justice Minister, Mr. Sadullah Ergin, Ministry of Justice/ Adalet Bakanligi, 06659 Ankara, Turkey; Fax: + 90 312 414 62 26
For detailed information :
IHDHeadquarter : + 90 312 230 35 67 – ihd@ihd.org.tr – ww.ihd.org.tr
İHD Istanbul Branch: + 90 212 244 44 23 – istanbul@ihd.org.tr – ww.ihd.org.tr
Lwayers : Lawyer Gülseren Yoleri and Lawyer Ahmet Fazıl Taner