Lawyers calls for end to isolation of Abdullah Öcalan and others in İmralı Prison
The Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD) has issued a joint statement in multiple cities regarding the isolation experienced by PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and three other inmates, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım, and Veysi Aktaş, in the İmralı F-Type High-Security Closed Prison.
According to a report by MA, the joint statement highlighted that no news has been received from Öcalan and the other three detainees for over 30 months.
Despite all efforts and applications made since August 7, 2019, ÖHD emphasized that no lawyer has been allowed to visit İmralı Prison. They stated:
"The prisoners held in İmralı Prison are subjected to such inhumane isolation due to their Kurdish identity and political beliefs, which do not align with societal conscience. Unfortunately, there is not enough public outcry in Turkey against this unparalleled injustice, and it is almost being ignored."
"Failure to implement UN decision"
ÖHD also pointed out that the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), a body of the Council of Europe of which Turkey is a member, had previously identified these violations in its reports on İmralı Prison, which were shared with the public. ÖHD stated:
"Regrettably, Turkey not only failed to implement these recommendations but also further deepened the isolation system at İmralı, turning İmralı Prison into an inaccessible and information-blackout facility.
"Upon the application of lawyers for Öcalan and the other three prisoners, the United Nations Human Rights Committee, in September 2022, accepted the precautionary measures and ruled that the applicants should be allowed to meet their preferred lawyers without any restrictions. However, Turkey has failed to implement this decision.
"In January 2023, after informing the Human Rights Committee that the situation of not receiving news continues for the lawyers, the Committee reminded Turkey of the precautionary decision, but unfortunately, Turkey has avoided implementing this decision."
775 lawyers from 29 bar associations applied
ÖHD emphasized that the rule of law has been set aside in İmralı Prison and outlined further actions:
"In addition to all this, on June 10, 2022, 775 lawyers from 29 bar associations applied to the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office with a power of attorney to request a lawyer visit. However, there has been no response to this application so far.
"Likewise, on September 14, 2022, 350 lawyers from 22 countries, mainly European countries, and on September 19, 2022, 756 lawyers from different Middle Eastern countries applied to the Ministry of Justice, requesting a lawyer visit to İmralı Island Prison. However, there has been no response to these applications." (AS)