The Istanbul Branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD) and the Istanbul Representation Office of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) made a statement to mark the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, which is annually held on June 26.

In addition to rights advocates, Green Left Party Amed Deputy Ceylan Akça Cupolo also attended the press briefing in front of the IHD office.

Ümit Efe stated that even though Turkey recognized the UN 'Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment', torture still continues in the country.

Efe drew attention to the situation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been kept in solitary confinement in İmralı F Type High Security Prison for 24 years. He said: “The unacceptable isolation in Imrali causes serious concerns in society, as is also revealed by the reports of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT).”

Efe demanded an end to the policies of impunity and called for the prosecution of torturers and establishment of a completely independent national prevention mechanism against torture. He concluded: “Prisons should be opened to the supervision of human rights and legal organizations. All CPT reports should be revealed to the public, and all their recommendations should be respected.”