World · Middle East · 3 hrs ago
European committee urges Turkey to protect patients and migrant children
A Council of Europe committee has called on Turkey to improve protections for people in psychiatric care and for migrants in detention.
Its findings came from visits to psychiatric hospitals and care homes in 2018, and immigration detention centers and İmralı Prison in 2022.
The committee said Turkey lacked a mental health law to protect patients from being confined or treated without proper safeguards.
It also reported harsh detention conditions, allegations of staff mistreatment, and urged authorities to avoid detaining families with children.
At İmralı, the committee found that prisoners had spent years in solitary confinement and faced restrictions on family and lawyer visits.
The committee warned that these combined restrictions could breach a European human rights ban on inhuman or degrading treatment.
The findings predate a 2025 peace initiative, and relatives have since resumed visits to Abdullah Öcalan, who received a family visit on October 9.
The Council of Europe’s anti-torture committee urged Turkey to adopt a mental health law and avoid detaining migrant families with children.
The committee said patients in some psychiatric facilities lacked legal protections and that some had no outdoor access for weeks or months.
It also reported allegations of staff abuse at immigration detention centers and called for sanctions against those responsible for mistreatment.
At İmralı Prison, the committee found that four prisoners had spent years in solitary confinement and warned that restrictions on family and lawyer contact could violate human rights protections.
The reports and Turkey’s responses were published at the government’s request.
- Who
- The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the Turkish government.
- What
- The CPT urged Turkey to adopt a mental health law, improve safeguards and avoid detaining migrant families with children. It also reported concerns about conditions and restrictions at İmralı Prison.
- When
- The reports were published on Monday, October 12, 2026. The CPT visits took place in April 2018 and September 2022.
- Where
- Psychiatric hospitals and care homes, immigration detention facilities, and İmralı Prison in Turkey.
- Why
- The CPT said its inspections found gaps in legal protections, restrictions on patients and detainees, and conditions that raised human rights concerns.
Council of Europe anti-torture committee
Turkish government
Detention of children
Council of Europe anti-torture committee
The CPT urged Turkey to avoid detaining families with children and said any confinement of children should last as little time as possible.
Turkish government
The government said children were not issued detention orders and stayed in centers at their parents’ request.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
The CPT inspected five psychiatric establishments and three care centers.
The CPT visited immigration detention facilities and İmralı Prison.
The PKK announced it would disband and end its armed campaign.
Öcalan received a visit from relatives, according to his lawyers.
The CPT reports and the Turkish government’s responses were published.
- Psychiatric inspection
- April 2018; five psychiatric establishments and three care centers
- Immigration and prison inspection
- September 2022
- Tuzla detention conditions
- Detainees were usually locked in containers for more than 23 hours a day
- Outdoor access at Tuzla
- 20 to 30 minutes
- İmralı prisoners
- Four prisoners were held at the prison during the CPT visit
- Family contact at İmralı
- Blocked since August 2019, with one exception
Sources
Related news
Burnham says Iran’s Revolutionary Guard likely directed Fairford plot
Saudi Arabia reports new missile and drone threats as Riyadh airport stays shut
PKK withdraws from four camps in northern Iraq as peace process advances
Iran offers to help mediate as Saudi-Houthi conflict escalates
Missile strike on Riyadh airport kills at least 12, injures more than 300
Melbourne Islamic leader rejects claims linking centre to Flydubai cockpit attack
UK summons Iran’s ambassador over suspected role in RAF Fairford incident
Houthi missiles and drones strike targets in Saudi Arabia
Riyadh airport stays closed as KLM suspends Saudi Arabia flights
Riyadh airport strike kills one and injures 11 a day after deadly attack
Riyadh airport hit again as Houthis warn airlines to avoid Saudi airspace
