The International Delegation Against Isolation organized the "International Forum Against Isolation" in Istanbul after their 3-day visits in Diyarbakır, Istanbul and Ankara. Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-chair Berdan Öztürk, Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) Co-Spokesperson Cengiz Çiçek, Democratic Regions Party (Democratic Regions Party) DBP) Co-chair Saliha Aydeniz, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Spokesperson Ebru Günay and MPs, Asrın Law Office lawyers, Lawyers' Association for Freedom (ÖHD) Co-General Bünyamin Şeker attended the forum.

'24 years of isolation cannot be summed up in 10 minutes'

Emran Emekçi, one of the lawyers of the Asrın Law Office, said that the 24 years of isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan, cannot be summarized in 10 minutes and added: “At the beginning of the 21st century, the Imrali isolation system imposed on Abdullah Öcalan, assumed an international dimension. It was built in violation of international law, the constitution and Turkish laws. We are about to complete the 24th year of this isolation system, which has been gradually aggravated over time. After 2015, this system has been transformed into an almost absolute lack of communication and inability to receive news for almost two years.”

Isolation is a political problem

Anya Tamara from the German Republican Lawyers Organization, who was in the Diyarbakır delegation, spoke about the effects of isolation on society and said: “It is necessary to look at how the isolation of political actors affects society. Isolation is not only a legal issue; it is also a political issue." 

'Isolation is a torture method'

Michela Arricale from the European Democratic Lawyers Union, who was in the Ankara delegation, said that isolation is a method of torture and added: “The right to communicate and obtain information is prevented in Imralı. This situation is contrary to Article 3 of the ECtHR. We wanted to have a very detailed picture of these visits. We think that this crime should be eliminated and investigated. It is clear that such practices do not fully comply with international standards. We will report all of them.”

'CPT must request verification'

Michela Arricale underlined that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) visited Imrali last September, and said: “We once again invite the CPT to take responsibility given the worrying situation and the absolute lack of communication in Imrali. We expect all legal and human rights defenders, especially our friends in Europe, to continue the rightful pressure on the CPT. In addition, we state that the CPT should immediately share its latest observations with the public.”

Cedric D'Hondt, a member of the Brussels Bar Association said: “The practices in Imrali prison are used as a model for other prisons in Turkey. We heard about the bad conditions and violations in other prisons: visits denied, family members strip searched. We saw that lawyer visits were rejected. Prisoners are denied access to healthcare. We have noted all this and, clearly, the situation needs to be fixed as soon as possible”.

Freedom of Öcalan crucial to peaceful solution

The delegation said that “the solution to all these problems lies in the democratic and social resolution of the Kurdish question. Abdullah Öcalan's freedom is inevitable for the solution of the Kurdish question on a political and peaceful basis and for the democratization of Turkey.