For the past 16 days, MPs from the HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) parliamentary group have been holding a vigil in Ankara for the lifting of the isolation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. There has been no sign of life from the prison island of Imrali for 22 months. Every day, the MPs try to march to the Ministry of Justice but are repeatedly prevented from doing so by the police.

HDP deputies Kemal Peköz, Sıddık Taş, Erol Katırcıoğlu, Remziye Tosun, Nuran İmir, Garo Paylan, Hüseyin Kaçmaz and Erdal Aydemir have joined the action in front of the parliament today.

Speaking here, HDP MP Remziye Tosun spoke about “a cruel practice of isolation on Imrali”, saying: “For two years, there has been no news from Mr. Öcalan, his family and lawyers have not been allowed to go to Imrali. We will continue the Justice Vigil until we get results.”

Tosun added: “With its insistence on isolation, the AKP-MHP alliance pursues a dirty policy and tries to design politics.”

'GATES OF IMRALI MUST BE OPENED'

Remarking that the gates of Imralı should be open for the family and lawyer meetings, Tosun continued: “The public should be informed about the health and safety of Mr. Öcalan as soon as possible. Mr. Öcalan's voice must be heard. In 2013 and 2015, when Mr. Öcalan was allowed to make his voice heard, the children of people did not die anymore. We also know that an honourable process will begin the moment Mr. Öcalan is heard from. However, the AKP continues to rule in this chaotic environment. That's why it imposes isolation on everyone from 7 to 70.”

'OUR ACTIONS WILL CONTINUE'

Tosun remarked that they voiced the demands of the public with their action. She called for the Ministry of Justice to act as soon as possible and ensure that families and lawyers are granted access to Imrali. “If this is not done, our actions will continue in every field. Because these lands have been drenched in blood and are tired of massacres.”

HDP Istanbul Deputy Erol Katırcıoğlu emphasized that they would continue to voice their demands for the ending of isolation. He said: “It is unacceptable that Mr. Öcalan has not been allowed to meet with anyone for 22-23 months. This is a practice that is completely against human rights and universal values. We believe that this should be stopped immediately. Secondly, Mr. Öcalan is someone who could bring peace in Turkey just like South Africa's Mandela. Mr. Öcalan is also a thinker, so we need his views to talk about the problems of Turkey’s people. The most important reason for our demand to stop isolation is that we want Mr. Öcalan's voice heard. Not only the people living in Turkey, but also the people living in the Middle East should also hear what Mr. Öcalan has to say.”