Turks blame Belgium for prison crackdown

Ankara - Turkey's Interior Minister, Mr Hikmet Sami Turk, said yesterday that instructions sent from Belgium to left-wing prisoners…

Ankara - Turkey's Interior Minister, Mr Hikmet Sami Turk, said yesterday that instructions sent from Belgium to left-wing prisoners precipitated his government's bloody crackdown last week. His comments reflect increasing suspicion by Turkey, a candidate for EU membership, that groups it considers "terrorists" can find sanctuary in western Europe. However, public opinion in EU countries is deeply critical of Turkey's penal policy. A Brussels-based human rights group yesterday urged Belgium to break off diplomatic relations with Turkey.

In Ankara diplomats say they have been pushing for reform of the overcrowded and chaotic prison system for years but do not want to interfere in internal Turkish affairs. Turkey now plans to phase out its dormitory-based prisons with new jails based on smaller cells. The inmates, many of whom are continuing their hunger strikes, say the new system will make them more vulnerable to abuse at the hands of their jailers.