The Constitutional Court decided that the rights of an inmate were violated after being remanded in solitary confinement for having a book by the jailed leader of the PKK terrorist organization.
The inmate, identified only by his initials H.S., was sentenced in 2009 to 15 years in prison for membership of a terrorist organization, possessing and swapping dangerous materials. In a routine search of his cell in Kırıkkale Prison, the inmate was found to have the photocopy of Abdullah Öcalan's book "The Problem of Overcoming Capitalist Modernity and Democratization" in his possession. As a punishment, the inmate was placed in solitary confinement for 15 days.
The inmate objected, arguing that the book was sent to him by post and that such books were delivered to inmates only after being approved by a board. However, prison authorities rejected his defense and decided the book was an illegal document. The prisoner then filed a complaint at the Constitutional Court, arguing that his rights had been violated.
The court decided the book was delivered to the inmate only after being assessed by the relevant board, arguing that an inmate cannot be punished for having in his possession an approved book.
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