For 28 days, MPs from the HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) parliamentary group have been protesting daily in Ankara, demanding the lifting of the isolation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. MPs Kemal Peköz, Muazzez Orhan, Abdullah Koç, Ayşe Sürücü and Erdal Aydemir took part in Monday's action.

Regarding the total isolation of Öcalan that has lasted for 22 months, Abdullah Koç said: "This isolation is a crime against humanity. That is why we, as the HDP parliamentary group, are organising a vigil for justice for the 28th time. For the 28th time, we are addressing the Minister of Justice and the AKP government. Mr Öcalan and his fellow prisoners have had no contact with their families and lawyers for 22 months. This practice is arbitrary and invalidates Turkey's law on detention."

Koç, who sees a close link between the economic and political crisis in Turkey and isolation, stated: "The peoples of Turkey are in an economic and political impasse. We are currently in an electoral process. The biggest obstacle to democratisation is the isolation on Imrali. Lifting this isolation would bring a breath of fresh air to the people of Turkey. For this reason, we, as the HDP parliamentary group, appeal for the 28th time to the Minister of Justice and the government: implement the existing law! We are not asking for special treatment. Our only wish is to hold talks with Mr Öcalan and the other prisoners on Imrali in accordance with the constitution and the laws."

Koç stressed that lifting the isolation would open the way to democracy. “At the moment, however, society is suffering massively from the isolation that has spread from Imrali to everything. We know that the wind of democracy and peace that will blow in the Middle East is coming from Imrali. Put an end to these unjust and illegal practices immediately. We demand that Mr Öcalan and other prisoners on Imrali, who have not been allowed to meet their relatives and their lawyers for almost two years, be allowed to do so in accordance with the constitutional right to equal treatment and the law of execution."