'Isolation is an international decision '

As the Turkish State's severe isolation of Leader Abdullah Ocalan in Imrali Prison continues, anti - isolation reactions are escalating globally.

Since the arrest of Leader Abdullah Ocalan at the Imrali Prison 22 years ago, independent doctors have not been allowed to go to Imrali detention facility. Since the first day, the prison has become an arena for special war policies, where Leader Abdullah Ocalan is prevented from meeting with his lawyers and his parents under the pretext of "bad weather" or "failure on the ship." Currently, any meeting or visit of lawyers and families on the pretext of the Corona pandemic has been blocked.

In this regard, Hawar news agency ANHA met with the MP of the Peoples' Democratic Party in Amed, Samra Kozl, to discuss the causes and consequences of the severe isolation of Imrali Prison.

The full text of the dialogue is as follows:

* The strike announced by political detainees entered its fourth month. The parents of the hunger strikers are also prohibited from visiting them in prison. Besides cutting water and sugar off from the hunger strikers, what's your assessment of this situation?

Erdogan and his government are currently running the country in accordance with fascist laws, suppressing every claim to rights, however small, through repression and pressure. Turkey has lost its status even at the international level, and the Government will pay for the killing, unemployment and arrests that are being made today one day, and it itself knows that, but I prevent that from happening.

Use the pandemic as a tool of special war'

There is a government that is not held accountable for the 17-25 January campaign, and does not disclose the fate of the lost funds, corruption and bribery have been transformed into a management method, the environment is being eliminated through power stations and a continuous series of war crimes are being committed

We know very well who is behind the crimes and violations committed by mercenaries in Rojava, and at home there are repressive policies, and there is no doubt that the impact of these matters on detainees is particularly increasing. In Turkey there is severe isolation and violation of human rights, and these violations have escalated during the pandemic. The Government had established a system with the aim of sustaining its control, and had found its small size in the pandemic to serve as a performance to perpetuate its power, and the fact was that the pandemic had become a tool of war.

Isolation extended to all Jails'

Isolation has exceeded the limits of the Imrali Prison, extended to all prisons, extended to society at large, and there is natural resistance to such violations, and with a view to camouflage this resistance, they have intensified isolation; Parents are banned from visiting their families in prison. If any visits were to occur, everything inside the prisons would be exposed and the subject would be greatly raised.

We submitted a question to the Ministry of Justice on the subject of isolation, but the Ministry said that it "does not allow the issue of isolation and hunger strikes to be included in the case notes" in the sense that it forbids the subject of isolation to be spoken once and for all.

In Imarli Prison the most extreme conditions are being imposed
* The isolation imposed on Imarli 5 years ago has turned into complete isolation, so far no information has been known about Leader Ocalan's health, and in the light of the outbreaks of COVID19, no information has been received from inside Imarli Prison, what do you say?

The isolation imposed Imrali is one of the most severe, and this system is imposed in the rest of Turkey and Kurdistan. Today, the eyes and ears of the peoples of Turkey go towards Imarli Prison to hear any call from there; Because everyone knows that any call from there will be a glimpse of hope for peace. But it's all blocked. In normal circumstances, public opinion has the right to receive information on the health status of Mr. Ocalan. In the circumstances of the Corona pandemic, this right becomes more urgent, but this right has been denied.

In 2018 Lelya Guven 's resistance came and the strike spread to prisons, and the meeting was allowed. Another encounter took place when there were reports of a fire in Imrali.

'Isolation is a method of torture'

Imrali is located in the middle of the sea, where the rate of moisture is increasing. A person over the age of 70 is detained in a solitary confinement. What does all that mean?

Isolation is the fact that a person spends a short period of time in a closed place, without benefiting from common places or communicating with society, culture and other detainees. Compared to European standards of detention, isolation is one of the methods of torture, with significant adverse consequences and effects on human health, is the same as that resulting from torture.

The situation resulting from isolation in solitary confinement can be described as follows:

A complete breakdown of man's nervous system, and man's sense of space and time is lost.

Human beings begin to lose control of their behavior, and to lose the ability to act reflexive, due to the loss of any external influence.

Increase in sweating, stomach pain, weight loss, back pain and vascular disease.

The immune system in the human body loses its balance, and many physical ailments appear, such as poor vision, because humans constantly view the same place and ocean.

Respiratory problems also arise due to increased humidity in the surrounding location.

'Conditions on the island are inhumane ':

Life in such a place requires strong will, but Mr. Ocalan has never spoken of his health status, so the complete isolation imposed on him is a crime. We know that elderly is being required of them to stay at homes because of the Corona pandemic, and special measures are being taken. Failure to take such measures in detention refers to a dual-right and healthy mentality.

Currently, rights violations have peaked, and most international treaties have been violated, and remain mere verbal warnings. In other words, the European Committee against Torture, although not fulfilling its responsibilities, sometimes recommends and states that the humanitarian conditions in the prison are inadequate.

'The Government neglects the reports of the European Committee against Torture '.

* During a visit by the European Committee against Torture to Turkey, reference was made to the spread of the Corona virus in prisons, so far no measures have been taken and no information has been shared with the relatives of detainees. How do you look at the government's silence?

The government has not paid any attention to the reports of the European Committee against Torture, nor has the Committee gone to the island during its recent visit, and in fact we are talking about an international conspiracy, and one of the reasons for this silence is this international conspiracy.

On the one hand, there was a department that said it was not concerned with the decision of the European Court of Human Rights, and that position meant insisting on a policy of war.

* In view of the position of the European Committee against Torture, how do you assess the position of democratic and international human rights institutions with regard to the hunger strike as well as the isolation imposed on Mr. Ocalan?

We said at the beginning: "This is an international conspiracy," Turkey cannot commit such a major crime alone, and the European Court of Human Rights, the European Union and the United States of America are acting with Turkey according to their interests, but it would be wrong to say that the people will stand by. There are many initiatives, but they are not enough

Imarli 's Peace Commission has very serious and important initiatives. It is a body that brings together activists, academics, trade unionists and politicians from many countries of the world, working in a systematic manner and making statements. There has also been a long-standing sit-in in Strasbourg, and outside the country, marches and demonstrations have been organized, campaigns have been launched at the initiative of British Trade Unions, as well as there has been increased activity against isolation in South Africa and elsewhere in the world, so political parties will eventually change things, and the pressure of public opinion is therefore very important on this subject.

* As a doctor and member of the People's Democratic Party, do you have any endeavors regarding the health of the detainees, and what needs to be done with regard to the isolation imposed on Imarli Prison?

Yes, of course, we have certain endeavors. The People's Democratic Party is a multi-identity political organization, and we are trying to put this issue on the table with all our partners and friends. Our main theme, both in parliamentary interventions and at the local level, is to lift the isolation imposed on the rest of society.

We have also appealed to the Minister of Justice and to Parliament to fulfil their responsibilities. We have tried all avenues, we are trying. In our recent campaign, which carried the slogan "Justice for all," we have raised the situation of detention and the subject of isolation.

The humanitarian and health conditions of Imarli and other detainees must be improved as soon as possible. Hot water, sleeves and cleaning materials must be secured free and continuous for the detainees. Periodic examinations must be carried out and treatment of the patients must not be delayed.

If the government is willing, it can meet all these demands in three days, only if it wants to apply its own laws, all problems will end. We must therefore always mention this, expose these policies and support the strike against the detainees.

T/S

ANHA