Close Saray Institution

To:  David Miliband, MP

Dear Mr. Miliband,

As Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs you recently visited Turkey and pledged to support them in their application for EU membership. The success of their application is partly conditional on them improving their record on human rights.

In 2005, Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI) described conditions in Turkey’s institutions for special-needs children as ‘tantamount to torture’. The Turkish government pledged immediate action.

A recent undercover investigation by British journalist Chris Rogers and HRH the Duchess of York revealed that little has improved. Conditions for children in these institutions are medieval.

At the Saray Institution in the Ankara over 700 children and young adults are confined in brutal, degrading and cruel circumstances. Tied to beds or left to wander with their hands bound behind their backs; disabled teens left lying in their own waste; infants fed whilst lying down, causing immeasurable pain to them; babies, toddlers and children spending their days lying behind bars or on the floor; disabled people left in soiled nappies as the facility lacks the funding to adequately supply its needs. No hope of finding families of their own. Imprisoned for life behind its locked doors and barred windows.

Please, instead of lending your wholehearted support to Turkey's European Union ascension, use your position and influence to force them to meet their responsibilites to the children in their care; close Saray and similar institutions; and introduce real and lasting improvements to their state run orphanages.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Close Saray Institution Petition to David Miliband, MP was created by and written by Louise Jordan (louisej533@gmail.com ).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.