Robert Fisk: Erdogan’s Mass Prisoner Release Will Make Way for More Coup Detainees

LONDON, (ST)-The British writer and journalist Robert Fisk has criticized the oppressive procedures and detention campaigns launched by the Turkish regime of Recepe Tayyib Erdogan against all who opposed his policy under the pretext that they have connection to the failed coup attempt in Turkey. The writer said that Erdogan agreed to release thousands of prisoners including criminals to make room for other thousands of “coup suspects”.

 In an article published by “The Independent” newspaper yesterday, Fisk said the government of Recepe Tayyip Erdogan, who considers himself as a sultan, emptied from its jails 38,000 inmates who have been in clink since before 1 July; in other words, criminals who could not have participated in the attempt to overthrow Erdogan 14 days later. These prisoners were released to leave a place for new inmates from Erdogan’s political opponents, the writer added.

He clarified that there were 187,000 prisoners in Turkey’s jails back in March. Since the failed coup in mid July the cops have picked up, imprisoned or “detained” for interrogation at least 23,000 soldiers and civilians, judges, journalists, teachers and civil servants. The figure may be as high as 32,000, even 35,000.

So, 38,000 convicts walk out of their cells to make way for the Sultan’s new batch of prisoners. The government insisted this was no amnesty; which, of course, it was, since there appears to be no system of ensuring that newly-released inmates will not repeat their offences. Incredibly, the release decree was claimed to be as part of a “penal reform” across the country’s 364 jails, according to Fisk.

It’s also an interesting reflection not only on the ease with which Turkey can free its prison population, but also of how one major political crisis can so swiftly overwhelm the country’s security system, he said.

The British writer stressed that Turkey’s jails have a sinister reputation for cruelty that goes back to the Ottoman days; a sinister reputation about which Amnesty International has proofs.

Hamda Mustafa