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A new scandal broke out in Turkey, titled the nude inspection of women in prisons, under a government that claims to be religious, although the Prisons Authority did not deny the matter, saying it was “necessary.”
Adding to the seriousness of the issue is the fact that a deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party in Turkey completely denied the existence of the issue, instead of winning the victims and opening an investigation.
“I don’t think there are any shameful inspections in Turkey,” Ozlem Zengin said.
Zengin’s refusal came in response to a speech by the representative of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Umar Girgirlioglu, who raised the issue in Parliament.
Omar Jirgirlioglu said 30 women who had been detained by authorities were subjected to a strip search and humiliation last August.
The verbal disputes between the two deputies sparked a controversy that spread outside parliament, with many opponents calling for an end to these growing practices, and the deputy’s words for the ruling party sparked anger among women.
Exposing women and stripping them of their clothes is a deeply ingrained practice in Turkish prisons, and it was before the era of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and continued under his rule, despite claiming to be a supporter of women’s rights. women.
Instead of prosecuting those accused of assaulting the women, the Turkish authorities rewarded them and gave them further promotions.
Turkish women denounced horrific testimony of nude searches that violate the sanctity of their bodies, according to the Turkish newspaper “Ahval”.
Among them is Pergol Kochal, who was subjected to a naked inspection in an Istanbul prison in 2016. Kochal explains: “I was detained for 11 days in custody and transferred to Bakirkoy prison. After checking in, we were checked topless into a small room. After we were transferred to Silivri Prison, they again searched us naked, as if we were being detained again ”.
And he continued: “I cannot express the feelings that I felt at that moment.”
Kochal erupted in anger at his comment on the words of a member of Erdogan’s party, saying: “I don’t know how his conscience can accept such a thing.”
Another woman was subjected to a nude inspection every time she went to visit her husband, who has been imprisoned in southern Turkey for 4 years.
The woman, who is only referred to as “Asli,” explains that she and her daughter must remove their clothes, even underwear, every time they go before their visit.
For Fatma Nur Inir, who was also subjected to nude searches while in prison, the statement by a member of Erdogan’s party is “shameful”.
“There are thousands of women who have been searched naked, something that I have personally seen over and over again for 357 days behind bars,” says Ener.
For its part, the Turkish Prisons and Prisons Authority defended the use of naked searches and what it likes to call “careful inspection” in its prisons, considering that it is a “necessary” and “exceptional” practice to prevent smuggling. in prisons.
The General Directorate of Prisons said in an official statement: “The careful inspection process is an exceptional practice, and as a precautionary measure accepted by international organizations and implemented by many countries.”
He stated: “The search is aimed at those who have been convicted or imprisoned on drug and terrorism charges and want to misuse their bodies.”
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