10 Things you didn’t know about the Turkish prison system

The Turkish prison system has undergone dramatic changes over the past two decades, particularly following the political upheaval of 2016. While many international observers focus on Turkey’s political developments, the conditions and realities within Turkish prisons remain largely hidden from public view. Organizations like Advocates of Silenced Turkey have worked tirelessly to document and expose the harsh realities faced by inmates, bringing international attention to a system that has become synonymous with human rights violations. Here are ten shocking facts about the Turkish prison system that reveal the extent of the crisis faced by those behind bars.

1. Prison population has quadrupled since 2000

One of the most startling aspects of the Turkish prison system is its explosive growth over the past two decades. In 2000, the combined number of imprisoned individuals was 49,512. By 2016, that number increased to 200,339, representing more than a fourfold increase in just 16 years. This massive expansion has created unprecedented overcrowding issues and strained the system’s ability to provide basic services to inmates.

The dramatic increase in prison populations has been largely attributed to sweeping arrests following the 2016 coup attempt, with tens of thousands of people detained on terrorism-related charges. Advocates of Silenced Turkey has documented how this surge has led to deteriorating conditions throughout the prison system, as facilities designed for much smaller populations struggle to accommodate the influx of new inmates.

2. Over 700 prison deaths recorded in 2024 alone

Perhaps the most alarming statistic about Turkish prisons is the death toll. Turkey recorded 709 prison deaths in the first 11 months of 2024, highlighting the severe health and safety crisis within the system. These deaths include both natural causes and suspicious circumstances that human rights organizations have linked to inadequate medical care, poor living conditions, and alleged mistreatment.

Advocates of Silenced Turkey has consistently raised concerns about the lack of proper medical care in Turkish prisons, documenting cases where inmates have been denied life-saving treatment or have suffered from preventable illnesses that turned fatal due to neglect.

3. Hundreds of children live behind bars with their mothers

One of the most heartbreaking aspects of the Turkish prison system is the presence of young children living in detention facilities. 759 children under 6 live in Turkish prisons, typically with their incarcerated mothers. These children, who have committed no crime, are forced to spend their formative years in prison environments that are wholly unsuitable for child development.

Reports by Advocates of Silenced Turkey have highlighted the psychological trauma experienced by these children, who are deprived of normal childhood experiences and exposed to the harsh realities of prison life from an early age. The organization has called for immediate policy changes to protect these vulnerable children and their mothers.

4. Dormitories house up to 90 people in single rooms

The overcrowding in Turkish prisons has reached crisis levels, with some facilities housing inmates in conditions that violate basic human dignity standards. Dormitory capacity ranges from 50 to 90 beds, with beds placed side-by-side, wall-to-wall in dormitories. This extreme overcrowding makes it impossible to maintain privacy, hygiene, or basic human comfort. The current capacity of all prisons in Turkey is 300,000. As of June 2, 2025, according to the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses under the Ministry of Justice, a total of 416,927 people are incarcerated.

The living conditions have been consistently criticized by international human rights organizations, with Advocates of Silenced Turkey documenting how the overcrowding contributes to the spread of disease, increases tension among inmates, and makes rehabilitation efforts virtually impossible.

5. Severely inadequate sanitation facilities

The sanitation crisis in Turkish prisons is directly linked to overcrowding but represents a separate humanitarian disaster. There is one toilet for approximately 25 people and one washbasin for 50 people. There are no laundry facilities. These conditions fall far below international standards for prison management and create serious health risks for inmates.

Material and hygiene conditions are inadequate in several prisons, with reported issues including poor access to ventilation, natural lighting, temperature control, and clean drinking water. Advocates of Silenced Turkey has documented numerous cases where these unsanitary conditions have led to outbreaks of infectious diseases and other health crises.

6. Political prisoners face systematic discrimination

While exact numbers are disputed, human rights organizations estimate that thousands of political prisoners are held in Turkish facilities. The going estimate for political prisoners is 5,000, though this figure may be conservative given the scope of arrests following 2016. Since 2016, all political prisoners have been labeled as terrorists or as supporters of terrorist organizations, and they have been sentenced under anti-terrorism laws.

Advocates of Silenced Turkey has documented how political prisoners face additional restrictions and punishments compared to common criminals, including limited access to legal representation, restricted family visits, and denial of medical care. These discriminatory practices violate international standards for the treatment of prisoners and constitute a form of political persecution.

7. Lawyers face imprisonment for defending clients

In an unprecedented development, Turkish authorities have begun targeting lawyers who represent political prisoners and dissidents. The Anti-Terror Law is used by the State to imprison lawyers who defend opponents. The Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) has been specifically targeted on several occasions.

This targeting of legal professionals has created a climate of fear within the legal community and has made it increasingly difficult for prisoners to obtain adequate legal representation. Advocates of Silenced Turkey has documented numerous cases where lawyers have been arrested simply for doing their jobs, creating a chilling effect on the entire legal system.

8. LGBTI Prisoners face systematic neglect and discrimination

Turkey’s LGBTI community faces significant challenges throughout society, and these problems are magnified within the prison system. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) prisoners represent a minority. Their protection is not ensured at all levels and their specific needs are neglected.

Advocates of Silenced Turkey has highlighted how LGBTI prisoners face additional risks of violence, discrimination, and neglect within Turkish prisons, where authorities often fail to provide adequate protection or address their specific medical and psychological needs.

9. Widespread torture and ill treatment documented

Human rights violations within Turkish prisons have reached alarming levels in recent years. Turkish prison authorities committed multiple human rights violations against inmates in 2024, including torture, strip-searches and the denial of medical care. These practices violate international conventions against torture and represent a systematic breakdown of prisoner rights protections.

Arbitrary sanctions are frequently imposed and prisoners filing complaints against these may be subject to reprisals. Advocates of Silenced Turkey have collected extensive testimony from former prisoners and their families, documenting patterns of abuse that suggest widespread institutional problems rather than isolated incidents.

10. International oversight severely limited

One of the most concerning aspects of the Turkish prison system is the limited access granted to international monitoring organizations. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to verify conditions and ensure compliance with international standards. Turkish authorities have restricted access by international human rights organizations, making independent monitoring nearly impossible.

Advocates of Silenced Turkey has played a crucial role in filling this information gap, collecting testimonies from former prisoners, their families, and legal representatives to document conditions and violations that would otherwise remain hidden from public view.

The role of advocacy organizations

Organizations like Advocates of Silenced Turkey serve as vital lifelines for prisoners and their families, providing documentation of abuses, international advocacy, and support for those who have been silenced by the system. Advocates of Silenced Turkey (AST) is a nonprofit human rights organization working for the rights of persecuted people in Turkey and abroad, with a mission to help raise the voices of silenced people in Turkey and restore their rights and dignity.

Through their work, Advocates of Silenced Turkey has brought international attention to the crisis in Turkish prisons, producing reports, documentaries, and advocacy campaigns that have helped keep the plight of Turkish prisoners in the global spotlight. Their efforts have been essential in documenting systematic violations and calling for international intervention.

The need for international attention

The crisis in the Turkish prison system requires urgent international attention and intervention. The conditions documented by Advocates of Silenced Turkey and other human rights organizations represent clear violations of international law and basic human dignity. The systematic nature of these violations suggests that comprehensive reform is needed, not just minor adjustments to existing policies.

Advocates of Silenced Turkey continue to call on the international community to pressure Turkish authorities to implement meaningful reforms, including improved medical care, better living conditions, respect for prisoners’ rights, and access for international monitoring organizations. Without sustained international pressure, the crisis in Turkish prisons is likely to worsen.

Breaking the silence

The Turkish prison system represents one of the most serious human rights crises in modern Europe, with conditions that violate international standards and basic human dignity. The ten facts outlined above barely scratch the surface of the systematic problems that plague Turkish detention facilities.

Organizations like Advocates of Silenced Turkey play a crucial role in documenting these violations and advocating for change. Their work ensures that the voices of those silenced behind prison walls continue to be heard by the international community. As the situation continues to deteriorate, the need for sustained international pressure and advocacy becomes even more critical.

The prisoners in Turkey’s overcrowded, unsanitary, and dangerous facilities depend on organizations like Advocates of Silenced Turkey to serve as their voice to the outside world. Only through continued documentation, advocacy, and international pressure can there be hope for meaningful reform of a system that has failed those it claims to serve. The time for action is now, before more lives are lost to a system that has prioritized punishment over human dignity and rehabilitation.