Tele1 Editor-in-Chief Merdan Yanardag’s criticism of the absolute isolation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan in a televised speech has generated a discussion in public.

Yanardag said: “The isolation against Abdullah Öcalan has no legal basis. It should be lifted. He is not even allowed to meet his family and lawyers. How is such a system of execution possible?”After his remarks, Yanardag was subjected to an investigation.

A statement released by Asrın Law Office on Monday said: “What should actually be investigated is the Imrali isolation regime itself and its implementers.” The statement noted that Öcalan is not allowed to meet his family and lawyers, which is a most natural and legal right, for unlawful reasons. Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş, who are held together with Öcalan in İmralı are also not heard from, it added.

Most violent stage of torture

The statement continued: “The denial of fundamental rights and freedoms is also a form of torture. Despite repeated efforts for more than 27 months, Mr. Öcalan and other inmates have been cut off from the outside world, and there is no reliable information about their health conditions and detention conditions. This is the most violent stage of torture in Imrali. It is obvious that what is wrong and illegitimate are these practices themselves.

It should be known that attacks on our client's personal rights are not separate from these policies. Contrary to the government propaganda, it has been declared by millions that Mr. Öcalan represents freedom and democracy. In 2006-2007, more than three million people in Turkey submitted their signatures to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and more than 10 million people petitioned to the Council of Europe in 2013, demanding the freedom of Mr. Öcalan.

As a result of our application in 2022, the United Nations Human Rights Committee submitted its precautionary decision taken on September 6, 2022 to the government. On 19 January 2023, the UN Human Rights Committee reminded the government of its decision, stating that ‘Öcalan and other inmates should be allowed immediately to meet with their lawyers without any restrictions’. However, we see that the government still does not comply with the international verdict which it is obliged to comply with. Failure to comply with this decision and the continuation of other forms of isolation constitute the crime of wilful misconduct and torture. We call on the government and the Ministry of Justice to comply with the UN Human Rights Committee’s precautionary decision and to bring an end to the incommunicado and torture practices immediately.”