Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Van Provincial co-chair Çetin Uyar evaluated the isolation policies implemented on Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan, the news of death in prisons, and the increasing pressure and torture.

Uyar said that "the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan in Imrali for 23 years has spread to all prisons in Turkey."

Isolation punishment with the excuse of quarantine

Uyar drew attention to the many methods of torture inflicted on ill prisoners and underlined that torture is not only physical. He said that deaths in prison continue to increase. “During the pandemic, the prison administration, the Ministry of Justice did not even give the prisoners masks or hygiene materials. Under these conditions, our friends who have COVID-19 are given a 14-day isolation sentence under the name of 'quarantine' after returning from the hospital. Our friends can die there from high blood pressure or heart attack. The Ministry of Justice and prison administration are responsible for these deaths. The 14-day isolation decision is actually an execution."

Ill prisoners are not taken to the doctor

Noting that ill prisoners are not even taken to a doctor in prisons, and thus their right to life is violated, Uyar said: “We see that the system, the state and the AKP government are focusing on prisons. I am also a prisoner’s relative and I have not seen my son for months. We did not accept this situation.”

Pressure increased with the new Minister of Justice

Uyar said: “There are currently deportations of prisoners taking place. Torture is not only applied to detainees, but also to their families. We do not accept this attitude. The ATK decides that thousands of ill prisoners, including very seriously ill ones like Aysel Tuğluk, can actually stay in prison. The Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) has lost its credibility and makes decisions in line with the government's policies. After Bekir Bozdağ became Minister of Justice, the prison conditions became even more difficult. This is not a coincidence and is the result of a conscious policy. With the excuse of the epidemic, the isolation is sought to be made legitimate. Prisoners are already in detention within four walls. Anything beyond that would be cruel. From here, we demand the end of the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan and the release of ill prisoners.”