Abdullah Öcalan Meets Brother Mehmet Öcalan After 28 Months

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Ömer Öcalan announced yesterday (January 13) that Mehmet Öcalan met with his brother Abdullah Öcalan, leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), on January 12.

The last time Mehmet Öcalan met with Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı Island was on September 11, 2016 on the occasion of the Feast of Sacrifice.

Öcalan family made application

Abdullah Öcalan's attorneys have also not been allowed to meet with him since 2011. Asrın Law Office said in a written statement that the meeting took place upon the application of the Öcalan family.

Statement from Buldan

HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan also confirmed the visit, saying, "Mr. Abdullah Öcalan has had a meeting with his brother Mehmet Öcalan. I would like to state that Mr. Öcalan's medical condition is good and we will inform our people in more detail within a few days" in a tweet posted on January 12.

Hunger strike ended in 2016

Before the last meeting held on September 11i 2016, 50 people, including HDP MP Leyla Güven, began an indefinite and non-rotating hunger strike. The strike ended after the meeting took place.

Leyla Güven, Co-Chair of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) and HDP Hakkari MP, has been on a hunger strike for 67 days for the purpose of the isolation on Abdullah Öcalan to be removed.

Güven unable to meet with attorneys

Güven's attorneys went to the Diyarbakır Type E Closed Prison after meeting of Öcalans announced but a meeting did not take place. Güven was unable to meet with her attorneys due to her medical condition.

"The meeting is important"

HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan attended her party's meeting with people in Okmeydanı district in İstanbul.

She said at the event, "We will announce details in the following days. Mehmet Öcalan having a meeting does not mean that the isolation is removed. This meeting is important but it should not be limited to this. The period ahead is a tough period." (EMK/VK)