Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Barış Yarkadaş has claimed that instances of strip search are increasing in Turkey’s prisons and called on Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ to take action to prevent rights violations in prisons, according to a story on the gercekgundem news website on Sunday.
Showing a cartoon drawn by a prisoner that portrayed the strip search one of his friends was subjected to in prison, Yarkadaş said forcing people to be strip searched is disregarding human rights.
The CHP deputy said the cartoon was sent to him several days ago by a prisoner in Edirne Prison.
“As a human being, I was ashamed of the practice [of strip search]. Regardless of the crime they committed, no individual can be forced into a strip search, which is an act of torture. Torture and turning a blind eye to torture are crimes against humanity,” said Yarkadaş.
The CHP deputy said while denying claims of torture in Turkey’s prisons, Justice Minister Bozdağ was asking for evidence. He said he sent the copy of the drawing to Bozdağ and was waiting for him to take the necessary action.