"Imrali's isolation continues in line with political interests"

The Jurists Association for Freedom (OHD), the Human Rights Association (ÎHD), the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights (TÎHV) and the Foundation for Social and Legal Research (TOHAV) recently submitted a petition to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, regarding Leader Abdullah Ocalan, Heyat Kaytano, Amin Ghorban and Jevan Boltan.

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe is responsible for monitoring and implementing the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.

The petition called on the committee to discuss all weekly and international meetings, and said that the life imprisonment sentence imposed on Leader Ocalan, Kaytan, Ghorban and Boltan contravenes Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Member of the Leader's Committee, Lawyer Mahmoud Khalo, stated that the decision of the European Court of Human Rights must be implemented, and added that the decisions issued for political reasons serve to deepen the isolation system in Imrali.

Mahmoud Khalo pointed out that the system of isolation imposed in Imrali is an inhuman act and said, "There has been injustice since the beginning of the conspiracy against Mr. Abdullah Ocalan."

The Turkish state, in addition to violating laws, applies the isolation system in Imrali. It also violates the detainees' right to meet with their families and lawyers, and deprives them of the right to speak on the phone. The European Court of Human Rights has special provisions that draw attention to the illegality of the trial of Mr. Ocalan who was denied of the right to speak and telephone his family and lawyers.

Khalo pointed to the statements of many legal and human rights institutions in Turkey, saying, "The decision of the European Court of Human Rights regarding violations of the life penalty must be implemented, and the illegal isolation imposed on Mr. Ocalan must be stopped."

Law and politics are intertwined in Turkey

 Mahmoud Khalo explained that law and politics are intertwined in Turkey and said, "Mr. Ocalan's isolation in Imrali is due to the interference of international forces in Turkish law, and the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights have no legal bases when it comes to Mr. Abdullah Ocalan."

He continued, "The conspiracy since February 15, 1999 continues illegally, and political interests have taken precedence over human rights and the rule of law."

Lawyer Mahmoud Khalo also pointed out that the isolation was tightened to block the way for the ideas of Leader Abdullah Ocalan, which will be the reason for progress in the Middle East, and added, "They do not want Mr. Ocalan's thought to reach people, and despite the isolation and all these intense pressures, the thought and philosophy of Mr. Ocalan has spread all over the world. Problems in the Middle East and the world are solved by Ocalan's ideas, and they are afraid of new and enlightened ideas, they are afraid of equality in life among people, so the system of isolation in Imrali still exists."

The Turkish state does not abide by international laws inside Imrali

 Lawyer Mahmoud Khalo mentioned the recent report of the European Committee against Torture on the isolation of Leader Ocalan, and stated that the Turkish state had deepened isolation despite international resolutions, and said, "The European Committee against Torture has several times published reports on the situation of Mr. Ocalan who has been detained in Imrali for 22 years. The Court of European Human Rights also mentioned that the trial of Mr. Ocalan is not legal, but the Turkish state has not taken any step in this regard. When a person looks at these data, they see that the isolation continues on Mr. Abdullah Ocalan by a decision of the political parties."

  At the conclusion of his speech, Lawyer Mahmoud Khalo added, "Europe is silent on human rights violations in Turkish prisons, especially in Imrali prison. International human rights lawyers and organizations must put pressure on the repressive and illegal policies of the Turkish state and end isolation."

ANHA