Cancer patient convinct dies in prison cell

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

Cancer patient convict İrfan Eskibağ has died in his Sincan prison cell while waiting for the authorities to respond to medical reports calling for his release, according to a statement released by the Turkish NGO the Human Rights Association (IHD).

Eskibağ, convicted of being a member of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June 2011, and subsequently received chemo treatment in frequent visits to hospitals from the F-type prison where he was serving time. His final visit to the hospital lasted three days.

Doctors had issued a medical report calling for Eskibağ’s release of, but the report was kept on hold at the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute for three months. Eskibağ passed away on May 7 and his body was delivered to his family following the official autopsy.

The IHD released a statement calling for effective legislative changes to allow patients with severe conditions to spend time with their families.