The opposition criticizes this measure and considers the increase in prison building as a “clear indication that there is no justice”

Building prisons: Erdogan's solution to prison overcrowding

REUTERS/HUSEYIN ALDEMIR - The Silivri prison complex is shown in Silivri near Istanbul, Turkey, on June 24, 2019

Atalayar

Updated: 04/03/20

The number of prisons during the term of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government increased significantly, with 200 prisons open, while the number of prisoners approached 300,000. The General Direction of Sanctions and Detention Centers of the Turkish Ministry of Justice has revealed this Wednesday the opening of 196 prisons in 14 years between 2006 and 2020.

The report, compiled by Bold Media, shows that while more than 200 new prisons were opened during the Justice and Development (AKP) government, the number of detainees and convicts reached 300,000. Although most of the 196 prisons were opened in 2016, four more were opened last month.

However, it’s known that the number of people in the prisons, whose total capacity is 233,000, is higher than this. As reported by Bold Media, Ömer Faruk Gergerliglu, a member of the People's Democratic Party (HDP), which is part of the Parliamentary Human Rights Inquiry Committee, said: “The fact that there are so many prisons is also an indication that there is no justice. Last November, a statement was made that the number of prisoners in the prisons was 288,000, but, it’s over 300,000”.

Soldados turcos hacen guardia fuera de una sala de tribunal en el complejo de la prisión y el palacio de justicia de Silivri, cerca de Estambul (Turquía), el 18 de febrero de 2020

Ministry of Justice data on prisons have revealed that penal institutions were overcrowded due to their capacity. Although the number of detainees and convicts is increasing every day, the AKP is trying to solve the problem by creating new prisons instead of structural reforms in the justice system.

In addition to the new prisons, the Ministry of Justice has increased the capacity of the prisons with additional buildings, both existing and new. Between 2010 and 2019, 36 buildings were constructed to serve as prisons. With these additional constructions, the capacity increased by more than 10,000 people.

According to last year's OECD data, Turkey is the second country with the highest imprisonment ratio, only behind the United States. Turkey's population is just over 80 million and that of the United States is about 328 million.

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