Serif Agu, a math teacher, was arrested on June 24, 2016, because of a complaint and slander. Upon his arrestment, he was sent to Antalya Dosemealti L-Type Prison.
He is in need of good care since he is a cirrhotic patient. He has Hepatitis B virus infection. Most importantly his liver must be transplanted immediately.
At the end of 2015, he had a medical operation, after the cancerous cell was identified in his liver. Varicosis occurred in his esophagus because of his illness. Embolism may occur at any moment at varicosis in the esophagus, and if this happens, there will be a death risk. Doctors operated him before his arrest, told that he urgently needed a liver transplantation. In addition to that, a donor was found within relatives of his family, and preparations for surgery began. However, he was arrested before the surgery. Currently, stress, nutritional deficiency, and prison conditions are negatively affecting his illness.
Furthermore, his medical tests and check-ups have not been done yet, and delays may happen. Besides, his medicines have not been given to him regularly.
His family sent his health reports to the Forensic Medicine Institute but rejected. Then, they submitted them to the upper committee, however, unfortunately, they were denied again.
It is tough to understand why such an incredibly sick person is still under arrest.
His wife and three children are only able to see him 30 minutes in every two months, and he has been held under arrest 1000 kilometers away from his family. Thus it is difficult for his family to come to see him not only morally but also financially. Besides, there isn’t another way to communicate with him. The letter is forbidden, the phone is prohibited.
In Antalya Dosemealti Prison, detainees are exposed to psychological torture, as they are not allowed to hear their wives and children’s voices even just for 10 minutes in every week. Serif Agu was a fatherless child. When he was in prison, his mother also died. He was not even allowed to attend his mother’s funeral.
In addition to this, his older brother seen by Agu as a father died just three months after his mother`s death. His family can’t even tell this fact to Serif Agu not to upset him anymore.
The family is so worried about his illness to relapse that they also did not let him know his uncle’s and aunt’s deaths.
The family states that Agu is a very qualified teacher in love with his country and they can’t understand why the government lets this trauma happening.
His wife sadly says: ”Serif Agu firstly lost his health, secondly his job, and then his dignity. We would patiently wait if he were not extremely ill. I am calling out to consciences of all authorized people. Please help us and do not let my husband die in prison.”
Responsible authorities:
- Munir Karaloglu – Antalya Province Governer
- Ramazan Solmaz – Antalya Chief Prosecutor
- Enis Yavuz Yildirim – Director of Prisons and Detention Houses
- Halil Ibrahim Demir – Warden of Antalya L Type Prison
