In a message to CPT: Take action for Abdullah Ocalan

81 civil society organizations, trade unionists, associations and academics sent a letter to the President of the European Committee against Torture (CPT), Dr. Alan Mitchell, and demanded the initiative to take immediate action on behalf of Leader Abdullah Ocalan.

It was noted in the letter that the demand of millions of Kurds is to lift the imposed isolation, and to emphasize that the practices being implemented in Imrali are a form of torture.

The letter stated the following:

“Leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is considered by millions of Kurds as their political representative, has been isolated for 38 months by the Turkish state on the island of Imrali, and no information can be obtained from him, and Mr. Ocalan was not allowed to meet with members of his family and his lawyer in any way during this period.” Inhuman and illegal isolation. Ocalan's relations with the outside world have been cut off, and no information can be obtained from him in any way.

During this period, Turkey is trying to turn Imrali Island into a “floating coffin,” and Mr. Ocalan, who is 75 years old and has been living in strict isolation for 25 years, is subjected to brutal torture, but no information has been provided about his health condition. During the past three years, which has raised great concern, in this current situation, it is not even possible to know where he lives, and his physical condition is a very sensitive issue for many Kurds who consider him their political representative.

As a result of these reasons creating difficulties, we ask the European Committee against Torture (CPT) to act immediately. Only in this way can our concerns be allayed. As the CPT, you have the right to visit all prisons in all States Parties to this Convention, including Turkey, this constitutes an opportunity and gives you the ability to send your own team of experts to Imrali, and the Turkish government is obligated to give you unrestricted scope so that you can conduct the meeting with Mr. Ocalan and hold a private meeting, and in this way, he can communicate with you in complete confidentiality without being exposed to any pressure.

We call on the European Committee against Torture to act in accordance with Article 3 of the Rules of Procedure of the Council of Europe; “Every member of the Council of Europe must recognize the standards of the rule of law and the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons in the context of the law.” He has been deprived of his human rights for twenty-five years, and for the past three years he has been deprived of his basic legal rights, such as seeing his lawyer and meeting with his family members.

What we sincerely ask of you is to immediately carry out your responsibilities and send a delegation to Imrali Island to meet with Mr. Ocalan and check on his health condition. In response, we would be very grateful if you would oblige Turkey to comply with all standards of the Council of Europe and the European Committee against Torture (CPT) and encourage Turkey to allowing Ocalan’s family and lawyers to visit him will serve as a way to assess the pressing human rights issue affecting millions of Kurds, and will also renew the spirit of compromise that is urgently needed to find a peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue in Turkey.”

List of signatories

“45 institutions, unions and civil organizations:

rûpacîon Icarîa Acontracorrîente, Federasyona Anarşîst a Iberîayê, Sevîlla 

*ARRAN, Rêxistina Ciwanan, Barselona 

*Meclîsa Antîespecîstayê, Madrîd

 *Meclîsa Collado Villalbayê, Madrîd 

*Komeleya Parêzerên Azad, Madrîd

*Apoyo Mûtûo, Aragon 

* Roberto el Pîrata, Komeleya Çandî, Cantabrîa 

* Komeleya Solîdarîa Intersîndîcalê, Valensîya 

* Komeleya Recîproka Sûbtenoyê, Tenerîfe 

 Zanîngeha Gel, Bûrgos

*Lucîano Romero Molîna" Komeleya Penaberên Kolombiyayê, Astûrîas 

* Kolektîfa Gûadaûcayê, Badajoz 

* Kolektîfa Karkerên Vallekasê, Madrîd

 * Kolektîfa Yretîembleyê, Madrîd 

* Sol Legal, Buroya Hiqûqê, Madrîd

*COSAL, Komîteya Hevgirtinê ya bi Emerîkaya Latîn re, Astûrîas

 * CSCA, Komîteya Hevgirtinê ya bi Pirsgirêka Ereban re

* CGT, Konfederasyona Giştî ya Karkeran

 * CGT, Şaxa La Rîoja 

* CGT, Şaxa Bûrgosê

*CIG, Konfederasyona Intersîndîcal a Galîzayê, Galîza

 * CNT, Konfederasyona Karkeran a Navneteweyî, Şaxa Terûelê

 * CNT, Şaxa Colmenar Vîejoyê

 * CNT, Şaxa Comarcal Sûrê

 * CSOA, Navenda Civakî, Bask

 *Komîteya Ekolojîstên Çalakger, Astûrîes 

*Weqfa Komunan, Tevahiya dewleta Spanyayê

 * Sendîkaya Yekîtiyê, Astûrîas 

*Konfederasyona Sendîkayên Katalanyayê 

*Komîteya Navneteweyî, Bask

*Tora Piştevaniya bi Kurdistanê re, Îngilîstan

 *Insiyatîfa Piştevaniya bi Kurdistanê re, Bask

* Partiya Keskan, Astûrîas

*Komeleya Lûmaltîk Herrîakê, Bas

*Dayîkên li dijî Zextê, Madrîd

*OSTA, Sendîkaya Karkeran, Aragon

* Platforma Parastina Tenduristiya Raya Giştî, Astûrîas

*Kovara Vîento Sûrê

*RAM, Komîteya Azadiya Rojava, Madrîd

*Mala Hevgirtinê ya Zabaldîyê, Pamplona û Navarra

* 13 Berpirsên sendîka û komeleyên çapemeniyê 

*  22 akademîsyen  

*Adrîan Almazan Gomez, Vîtorîa-Gasteîz, Araba 

*Begona Landa Calvo, Castrîllîonn, Astûrîas 

*Benjamîn Jimenez de la Hoz, Madrîd 

*Danîel Garcîa, Madrîd 

*Emîlîo Nevado Gûerra, Castrîllon, Astûrîas

 *Esteta Mateo Regûeîro, Menarco

* Francîsco Joser Espano, Prefesorê Zanîngeha Carlosê

 * Javîer Rodrîgûez Martîn, Valladolîd 

* Jûan Vîllasante Claramonte Sedavî, Valensîya 

* Jose Mîgûel Sanemeterîo, Dîroknas, Bas

*Marîa Antonîa Olîver Rotger, Barselona 

*Marîa Letîzîa Epîscopo, Pisa, Îtalya 

*Marta Fernandez Garcîa, Ovîedo-Astûrîas 

*Nelly Bocchî, Fîdenza, Îtalya 

*Nîcoletta Manûzzato, Rojnameger

 *Nûrîa Pomposo Rodrîgûez, Candabrîa

*Rîcardo Hoyos Brage, Collado Medîano, Madrîd 

* Ruben de la Pena Martînez, Bûrgos 

* Teresa Cortes Jûrado, Parla, Madrîd 

* Tîzîano del Cotto, Vîllasanta, Îtalya 

* Yanîra Hermîda Martîn, Profesorê Dîrokê, Canarîa.’

T/ Satt.

ANHA