Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan has been held in a solitary cell since February 15, 1999. Öcalan hasn’t been allowed to meet with his lawyers since July 27, 2011 and the last ever physical contact with him was made by his brother Mehmet Öcalan on September 1, 2016. Kurdish People’s Leader Öcalan has been held under severe isolation conditions and hasn’t been in healthy communication for the last two years.

The Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) hasn’t seen to the demand by the family and lawyers to be informed of Öcalan’s health and safety yet.

Human Rights Association (IHD) Amed Chapter Chairperson Abdullah Zeytun spoke to the ANF and protested the isolation, while stating that the isolation in Imrali is completely outside of the law.

"CPT MUST FULFILL ITS DUTY"

Zeytun pointed out that there has been no information received from Imrali since September 11, 2016 and stated that appeals by the family and lawyers to have visits with Öcalan have consistently been rejected. Zeytun said, “Mr. Öcalan is not an ordinary prsioner, he is a representative of peace and the unity of peoples.” Zeytun stressed that the ideology of Kurdish People’s Leader Öcalan is the guarantee of peace on these lands and pointed out that the bloodshed stopped for 2 years under Öcalan’s lead during the peace talks.

Zeytun stated that the CPT published the report for their April 28-29, 2016 visit to the Imrali island on March 20, 2018 and pointed out that the CPT and other European human rights institutions have failed to fulfill their duty towards the aggravated isolation imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Öcalan. Zeytun stressed that the CPT’s stance is unlawful and that the CPT needs to visit the island as soon as possible.