ÊLIH - Mehmet Şirin Çelik, who was hospitalized after suffering a brain hemorrhage and taken back to prison after spending two days in intensive care, said he is being kept in prison despite his serious medical condition. 

 

Mehmet Şirin Çelik, a seriously ill prisoner who suffered a brain hemorrhage on July 3 in Elazığ No. 2 High Security Closed Prison, described his condition during a phone call. During the call, Çelik had severe hearing difficulties, struggled to speak and showed signs of cognitive difficulties resulting from the brain hemorrhage. Çelik said he has frequently suffered from high fever and headaches since the brain hemorrhage and has difficulty speaking. Çelik said: “My whole body hurts. I spent two days in intensive care. They said I was fine and sent me back to prison. My head hurts. I don’t have the strength to stand. I told them I was in serious condition. Yet I am still being held here.”

 

WHAT HAPPENED?

 

Mehmet Şirin Çelik, who was sentenced to life imprisonment after being detained in Istanbul in 1999, suffered a brain hemorrhage on July 3 while being held at Elazığ No. 2 High Security Closed Prison. He was first taken to Fırat University Hospital and, after receiving treatment there, was transferred to Fethi Sekin Hospital. He was later taken back to prison. Çelik also suffers from shortness of breath, hypertension and diabetes. He is also known to have had heart disease and to have undergone an angioplasty.