THE LETTER OF 96% DISABLED POLITICAL PRISONER IRFAN YILMAZ

People Can Live Without Arms or Legs. Without Speech, Sight, or Hearing Too.
But Never Without Dignity…”

A Letter from İrfan Yılmaz, Diagnosed with Cerebellar Syndrome and Holding a 96% Disability Report,
to the public, journalists, intellectuals, and artists.

Hello,

First of all, I send you my greetings and warm regards.

I wish you success in your work.

How are you? I hope you are very well.

Despite all the injustices I have endured and my illness, I am trying to stay well.

My name is İrfan Yılmaz. I am 59 years old and suffer from Cerebellar Syndrome. I am assessed as 96% disabled. I can not stand unaided; I can not use my arms and hands as I wish. I struggle to speak, and there are many other obstacles in my life.

Even in this condition, and despite the report from the Council of Forensic Medicine stating that “he cannot continue his life in prison” in relation to my request for postponement of sentence execution, I am still being held in prison on the grounds of the Sarıyer District Police Department’s opinion that I would “create a security risk”.

Naturally, I continue to experience many health problems.

About a month ago, I was referred to the Urology Department at the Marmara (Silivri) Prison Campus Hospital. Following the doctor’s examination and recommendation, the catheter I had used for years was removed. I was advised to adapt to living without a catheter. However, despite my requests, the doctor did not prescribe necessities such as a urine bottle or a condom catheter.

Only incontinence pads were prescribed. Yet using pads is difficult for me under prison conditions, and the pads provided are not sufficiently absorbent. I am trying to continue my life through primitive means, using plastic bottles as makeshift urine bottles and improvised condom catheters. However, since the removal of my catheter, I have frequently suffered urinary tract infections.

Because of this, the prison doctor prescribed three different antibiotics. One was for single use only, which I took. The others were antibiotics dosed at 500 mg and 100 mg.

I was not allowed to benefit from the “special holiday open visit” granted to others.

On 23 March 2026, the prison administration banned the BirGün newspaper — which Güzin Tolga subscribes to monthly and which had been delivered after all required procedures — on the grounds that it contained news about what we are experiencing in this prison, apparently so that “we would not see the report”.

On 25 March 2026, our weekly ten-minute phone call was not allowed.

On 25 March 2026, a letter sent by Ercan Yıldız to Güzin Tolga was deemed “objectionable”.

The same letter, which had been inspected by Adana F-Type Prison and found not objectionable, was subjected here to a double standard, with the “objectionable” sections removed and the letter delivered incomplete.

In March, we were not allowed to use our parcel post rights.

In prison, we are permitted to send gifts to our families and loved ones only once a month. According to the schedule imposed at the beginning of 2026, the parcel collection and posting dates for March were set as 16–24 March.

When parcels were not collected on those dates, we asked why and were told, “There is no staff; we will collect them next week.” Afterwards, despite our repeated enquiries, on 3 Apri, we were told, “We will not accept parcels in March.”

Thus, our already restricted right to send parcels once a month has effectively been confiscated. The gifts we prepared for our families for International Women’s Day and the holiday period will only be posted at the end of April and will not reach them until May.

Prisoners’ rights can easily be interfered with, and disruptions in administrative procedures are readily used as justification for restricting rights.

It is forgotten — or ignored — that we prisoners are human beings, that we have social rights, families, and loved ones.

All these violations occurred in March alone.

The prison administration is unlawfully punishing us by pursuing a policy of depriving us of our legal rights and subjecting us to severe isolation. By creating a prison within a prison, our most basic constitutional rights are being taken away.

Unless these harsh isolation conditions come to an end, such abuses will continue to increase.

I demand that what is necessary be done, that the imposition of the “identity card” requirement be lifted, and that arbitrary violations of rights be brought to an end.

While taking the antibiotics, I began experiencing numbness in my fingers, constant urinary leakage, and an almost complete inability to feel when I needed to urinate. Since these are particularly sensitive matters for me because of my illness, I stopped taking the medication immediately and saw the prison doctor again to explain the situation. I specifically requested a referral to the Neurology Department. The doctor said the problem was primarily urological and referred me back to the Urology Department on the prison campus, suggesting that I request a neurology referral there.

A week later, on Wednesday, 1 April 2026, after 2 p.m., I went to the urology department. While explaining my condition to the doctor, I was scolded by him. He said, “These medications have no side effects! Are you trying to teach me how to be a doctor?” and then ordered, “Take him away,” throwing me out of his office.

Despite the fact that I already struggle to speak because of my illness, the doctor would not even allow me to explain myself. I find his attitude incompatible not only with medical ethics but also with basic humanity. Even the information leaflets for these medicines list dozens of side effects, so on what basis can he claim that they have none?

Moreover, I am the one experiencing these effects. Without examining me or carrying out any tests, on what information is he basing his judgement?

I am bedridden and confined to a wheelchair. Even travelling from one place to another or changing vehicles is already an ordeal for me. The doctor’s ignorance, therefore, became a further form of suffering and torment.

I have also written about these experiences to the Istanbul Medical Chamber. In addition, I have filed a criminal complaint.

I am not a special case. I know that in the prisons of our country, there are hundreds of seriously ill prisoners in situations similar to mine who are being detained on the basis of anti-scientific reports and unlawful court decisions. We are being punished because of our political beliefs.

People can live without arms or legs. They can even live without speech, sight, or hearing. But never without dignity.

I ask you to make the public aware of what I have experienced and to be my voice.

Once again, I wish you ease and success in your work and send my love and greetings.

İrfan Yılmaz
05.04.2026 / Silivri