Law 4771 of 3 August 2002 abolished the death penalty for peace time and replaced capital punishment with life imprisonment for 17 provisions of the Turkish Penal Code.
Under subparagraph c), prisoners serving aggravated life imprisonment may have their daily one-hour open-air exercise and sports period extended and may be allowed to engage in limited contact with prisoners accommodated in the same unit, depending on the risk factors, security requirements and the efforts and good behaviour they demonstrate in rehabilitation and educational activities.
Under subparagraph d), such prisoners may engage in a trade or occupational activity considered suitable by the administrative board, if conditions in the place where they are held so permit.
The Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) considers that the very philosophy underlying Article 25 of Law 5275 should be rethought.
The decision whether or not to impose an isolation-type regime, in CPT's view, should lie with the prison authorities and always be based on an individual risk assessment of the prisoner concerned; further, the regime should be applied for as short a time as possible, which implies that the decision imposing it should be reviewed at regular intervals.
For those who are convicted of terrorist related offences and sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment, there is no parole, and thus they will spend the rest of their lives in prison unless they are granted the presidential pardon; which has been historically rare.
These same provisions apply for any cases of terrorism and these inmates are required to spend the rest of their lives in prison.