HDP: isolation regime in Imrali must be ended

The Law and Human Rights Commission of the Peoples' Democratic Party issued a statement regarding the isolation imposed on leader Abdullah Ocalan.

And the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s statement stated: “Since Mr. Abdullah Ocalan was transferred to Imrali Island Prison on February 15, 1999 with an international conspiracy, he has been living in an individual cell, and he has been prevented from meeting with his family and lawyer by neglecting all legal procedures. While the inhumane practices continue in Imrali in a systematic manner, it will have been 4 years since the day the lawyers did not meet with Ocalan.

Absolute isolation

The statement continued as follows:

“Until 2011, Ocalan's right to meet with his lawyer was limited to one hour per week, but there was no such provision in the law; Despite this restriction, these meetings have always been prevented under the pretext of “weather conditions” or “ship breakdown”. From July 27, 2011 to today, between May 2 and August 7, 2019, only 5 lawyers' meetings were held. The last of these five meetings took place on 7 August 2019. Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Khairi Konar and Vesi Aktaş have not seen their lawyers since 16-17 March 2015 when they were transferred to Imrali. The written requests submitted by the lawyers to the Public Prosecution Office in Bursa and the Imrali Prison Directorate were not answered.

In the report shared with the public on August 5, 2020 by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT); He defined the situation in which information could not be obtained from Imrali as “incommunicado” or the complete absence of contact, stated that this situation was unacceptable and suggested that this situation be ended. The European Committee against Torture also announced that it went to Imrali during its visit to Turkey from September 20 to 29, 2022, but did not make any statement regarding the conditions of the prisoners.

Isolation is linked to the politics of war

Lawyers for Ocalan and the three other prisoners announced that they had appealed to the United Nations Human Rights Committee to end the absolute isolation. This request was accepted, and the government was informed, according to the decision issued on August 6, 2022, that “the state of isolation must be ended for those who applied for a visit, and that the meeting with any lawyer they want to meet takes place without hindrance.” However, neither the reports of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture nor the resolutions of the United Nations were acknowledged, and no steps were taken to end absolute isolation. After the phone call on March 25, 2021, which was suddenly interrupted, no information was received from Mr. Ocalan.

The isolation system that has been in place in Imrali for 24 years; arbitrary and discriminatory and against international laws and conventions. If people regard this 24-year regime as just an ordinary prison policy, and if isolation is justified only from the legal side, the probability of obtaining results from protesting this law will be small. The isolation system can be explained by the state's policies that aim to obstruct the Kurdish problem, in addition to its security perspective and war policies in the Middle East. The historical social role and mission of Mr. Ocalan in solving the Kurdish problem is the main reason for this isolation. The historical social role and mission of Mr. Ocalan in solving the Kurdish problem is the main reason for this isolation. With the isolation of Imrali, the impasse of the Kurdish problem deepens and the hope for democratic politics and peace for the people disappears.

The isolation system must be ended

for these reasons; This isolation, which violates all national and international legal norms, in particular the laws prohibiting torture and ill-treatment that are ignored in Imrali Island prison and established by international organizations, must be removed immediately and basic legal rights must be guaranteed, especially the right to meet with lawyers. And if the reports of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture are actually applied, then steps should be taken towards the issue, following the decisions of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, and an end to the isolation system.

T/ Satt.

ANHA