Two Turkish rights groups have alleged that a disabled prisoner was beaten and denied adequate medical care during and after a visit to a hospital earlier this month, prompting calls for an independent investigation.
In a report dated March 16, the Human Rights Association (İHD) and the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD) said inmate Devrim Ayık was subjected to ill-treatment by gendarmes on March 12 while being transferred from a prison in the southern province of Antalya to a hospital.
The report alleges that Ayık, who has a 76 percent disability rating and suffers from Crohn’s disease, was forcibly dragged, beaten and kicked after objecting to a medical decision that contradicted earlier advice that he required surgery. He said he was pulled by his handcuffs and taken down several floors, then assaulted in an area without camera coverage.
According to the account, Ayık later experienced severe pain and weakness but was returned to prison before being taken again to a hospital. There, he said medical staff did not issue a formal injury report after security personnel intervened.
The groups also said Ayık had waited about eight months for surgery recommended after an examination by an ear, nose and throat specialist, without being given a confirmed date. They said the condition was separate from his Crohn’s disease and that delays and conflicting medical assessments pointed to broader problems in access to care in prison.
The report argues that the alleged treatment may violate Turkey’s obligations under domestic law and international conventions, including the prohibition of torture and the duty to ensure access to healthcare for detainees.
The organizations called on the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office to open an immediate and impartial investigation and identify the gendarmes involved. They also urged that Ayık be examined by independent doctors and that his treatment plan be clarified without delay.
Throughout 2025, human rights organizations documented credible allegations of widespread and systematic abuses by security forces and authorities. A growing culture of impunity appeared to embolden law enforcement and prison officials, leading to arbitrary practices. Investigations into allegations of torture remained largely ineffective, reinforcing concerns about institutional tolerance for abuse. Reflecting the severity of the situation, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) ranked Turkey as the second highest-risk country worldwide for torture in its 2025 Global Torture Index, published in June of last year.
