HDP Applies to Parliamentary Human Rights Committee for Investigation in İmralı Prison

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Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) MP Gülüstan Kılıç Koçyiğit has made an application to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Human Rights Inquiry Committee for a delegation to visit İmralı Prison, where Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan resides.

In the application, it has been demanded that a delegation formed by the Comittee conduct an investigation in the prison.

HDP MP Leyla Güven has been on a hunger strike for 75 days with the aim of the isolation on Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan to be lifted.

Güven’s and 230 other inmates’ hunger strikes have also been mentioned in the application.

“Öcalan cannot use any of his legal rights”

The following remarks have been made in the application:

“Abdullah Öcalan is not allowed to meet with his attorneys since July 27, 2011, with his family since October 6, 2014 and with the İmralı delegation since April 5, 2015.

“On January 12, 2019, his brother Mehmet Öcalan met with him to eliminate the concerns regarding his life.

“Öcalan’s attorneys appeal to the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office every week to meet with their client. They have been rejected 780 times so far.

“Abdullah Öcalan cannot use the basic rights that every convict has according to the laws of the Republic of Turkey.

“He cannot use his rights to meet with attorneys and notaries, to attend culture and arts events, freedom of expression, use the library, use publications, communicate with telephone, use television and internet.”

“We spent three years in peace and serenity”

“Society of Turkey saw in the resolution process that Abdullah Öcalan is the most effective actor to stop the conflict and resolve the Kurdish question through dialogue and negotiations.

“Öcalan, between 2013 and 2015, had meetings with the state and the government for the Kurdish question to be resolved through dialogue and negotiations.

“During the resolution and negotiation process, the peoples of Turkey spent three years in peace and serenity.” (AS/VK)