Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan has not been heard from since March 25, 2021. The Council of Europe'sCommittee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) announced that it had visited İmralı Island in 2022, but did not make its report public. In 2024, during its visit to Turkey, it did not visit İmralı Island. This has raised serious doubts about the health of Abdullah Öcalan and his fellow prisoners, Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysi Aktaş.

Doctors Working Group of Kurd-Akad, a network of Kurdish professionals and academics, prepared a report calling attention to significant risks from a medical point of view regarding the conditions in Imrali Island Prison where Öcalan has been held since his arrest in Kenya and handover to Turkey as a result of an international conspiracy in 1999. The objective of the report is to raise awareness about the health istuation of Abdullah Öcalan and the health risks he is subjected to at the Imrali prison island. The focus is on aspects of climate and isolation as well as access to medical care. The considerations are based in particular on the corresponding definitions and approaches of the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CPT.

The report points out that the conditions on the island are unacceptable, especially in the context of health. In addition to the climatic conditions, the political circumstances pose a considerable health risk. The right to health integrity in all areas relating to health does not exist. There is also no adequate access to medical care. The requirements and demands of the CPT in this regard are ignored by the Turkish government.

“Considering the political significance of Abdullah Öcalan, the situation is very critical. Urgent intervention is therefore required. Mr. Öcalan must have unrestricted access to medical care. Solitary confinement must be lifted immediately,” the report says.

The main findings of this report are:

1. The high humidity on the island is a high-risk factor for Mr. Öcalan's health.

2. The conditions on the prison island allow only few measures to minimize health risks caused by the climate.

3. Multiple challenges exist regarding access to health services on an island.

4. Mr Öcalan is being held in solitary confinement for most of the time with massive effects on physical and mental health.

Referring to the conditions of solitary confinement, the report, citing the CPT, says that the maximum duration of solitary confinement should not exceed 14 days and should preferably be less. “Solitary confinement in itself clearly raises issues relating to the prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Moreover, it can create an opportunity for targeted ill-treatment of detainees, far from the attention of other detainees or prison officers.”

Remarking that the medical vow, the Declaration of Geneva, obliges doctors to take up the case of Abdullah Öcalan, the report states that the conditions on the prison island of İmralı are not compatible with professional ethics.

According to the report, “The fact that no improvements have been made in recent years - as stated by the CPT - as well as the lack of communication with the family and the lawyers underlines the need for intervention by health professionals/experts. “Many questions remain unanswered despite visits by the CPT. Were the required examinations carried out? If so, what was the result? Was it checked whether the medical equipment could also be operated by the staff? What evidence was provided or shown? What role does climate and, in particular, climate change play in the assessments? How does the CPT relate to the permanently operating air conditioning system? What about the water quality? On the subject of the investigations into the allegations of poisoning, the question arises whether independent institutions, e.g. the Turkish Medical Association, were allowed on the island. Did the CPT hold discussions with these institutions?”

In the conclusion part, the report lists the following demands:

• An international and interdisciplinary delegation of health professionals / experts is necessary.

• This delegation must be granted immediate access to the prison island of İmralı.

• The CPT must take a clear position. It is important that the report on the September 2022 visit is published swiftly.

• The Council of Europe must draw conclusions from the CPT’s reports.

• The Council of Europe must push for the implementation of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights with all available means.