HDP Co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ was arrested on November 4 in the political genocide operations and placed in Kandıra Type F Prison and is still being held in isolation.

According to her lawyers, Yüksekdağ is held alone in a 3-person cell and the neighboring cells are kept empty.

The bloc used to house non-political prisoners but was evacuated before the MPs were arrested. The bloc is presumed to have been evacuated for female politicians from HDP and DBP.

KJA Spokesperson Ayla Akat and Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-mayor Gültan Kışanak are also kept in the same bloc.

Yüksekdağ appealed to the Judge of Execution to stay in pairs in cells. But the Judge of Execution claimed Yüksekdağ being held alone doesn’t violate the law or international treaties and refused the appeal.

Her lawyers will appeal the verdict of Kocaeli Judge of Execution in the Criminal Court.

LETTERS AND FAXES BLACKED OUT

Yüksekdağ’s communications through letters and faxes are also hindered. A fax sent to Yüksekdağ by an arrestee in Edirne Type F Prison and a letter Yüksekdağ sent was seen to be “objectionable”. The Prison Disciplinary Council claimed the fax and letter “contained insults” and decided they should be delivered to their recipients after being “blacked out”.

Lawyer Sezin Uçar pointed out this was a violation of Yüksekdağ’s right to communication.

RIGHT TO DEFENSE VIOLATED

HDP Co-chair Yüksekdağ’s right to defense is also being violated. Her meetings with her lawyers are being recorded and a guard is present in her visits. The prison administration has also confiscated the notes taken by her lawyers during their visits.

The lawyers have appealed the verdict of Diyarbakır 4th Criminal Court of Peace but the appeal was refused, citing “The practice is in compliance with the law”.

The complaint regarding the prison staff hasn’t been concluded yet.

Yüksekdağ’s lawyer Sezin Uçar said the relationship between lawyer and client is confidential and added: “The situation our client Ms. Yüksekdağ is facing does not comply with the law, and means the disappearance of the right to defense.”

RIGHT TO CONVERSATION ALSO VIOLATED

HDP Co-chair Yüksekdağ is deprived of her right to “be visited by 3 friends” due to the State of Emergency, and also can’t exercise her “right to conversation”. According to the law, Yüksekdağ has the right to meet with 10 arrestees she chooses for 9 hours a week, but she isn’t allowed.

Lawyer Uçar said: “Our client HDP Co-chair Ms. Figen Yüksekdağ is kept under a strict isolation. Our appeals to have this situation changed are refused. But we will continue our legal attempts.”