AMED – The release of Nihat Şahin, a 30-year prisoner in Tekirdağ Prison, was postponed on the grounds that he said, “I paid price to live my Kurdish identity”.

 

Nihat Şahin, a 30-year prisoner in Tekirdağ F-Type High Security Closed Prison No 1, was expected to be released on 4 May. Şahin's release was postponed by the Administration and Observation Board on the grounds of "not being in good behaviour".

 

In the decision taken by the Administration and Observation Board, it was stated that Şahin was compliant with his attitudes and behaviours during the prison process, complied with the rules regarding the order and security of the prison, complied with the austerity measures, cleanliness and functioning, facilitated the work of the administration and the institution, and was compliant in joint activities. 

 

Şahin was not found to be incompliant and he was released on the grounds that he had said that the he had “paid price for 30 years to live his Kurdish identity” and that he had “no regrets”. 

 

The Observation Board assessed Şahin’s situation as “unfavourable”. It was also stated that Şahind had stayed in an “organised” ward, had not received psycho-social support, had participated in hunger strike protests, and that he is “not ready to integrate into society” and would “pose a danger”. Due to these reasons, the board claimed that Şahin is “not in good behaviour.

 

The board set the next evaluation date as 4 December.