Former Co-Chair of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Sebahat Tuncel submitted a petition on March 23 to the Ministry of Justice demanding to put an end to the isolation on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Tuncel’s petition pointed to Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gül's statement on May 16, 2019 which claimed that there are no legal obstacles to meeting with Abdullah Öcalan.

"His family and lawyers should contact Mr. Öcalan immediately,” she demanded.

PRACTICES ON IMRALI TURNED INTO SYSTEMATIC TORTURE

The petition of Tuncel reads as follows:

“Fundamental human rights and freedoms, constitutional and legal rights must be applied equally to all citizens. However, an exclusive law has been implemented on Imrali for 21 years. Mr. Öcalan has been held in the Imrali High Security Penal Institution for 21 years under aggravated isolation. Practices in İmralı prison have turned into a systematic torture. Mr. Öcalan and the other prisoners on Imralı; Ömer Hayri Konur, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş are not allowed to meet with their families and lawyers.

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS SUSPENDED

Previously the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) had reported that there has been a 'special law' regime in Imrali, isolation is torture and Turkish government should put an end to this policy. However, the government has intensified torture and isolation, and suspended the legal and constitutional rights of Mr. Öcalan and his companions.

OBSTACLES SHOULD BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY

Recently some allegations have been made about the life of Mr. Öcalan on social media accounts. No statement has been made to relieve his family and the public on this matter. Your government and ministry bear the responsibility for the health and safety of Mr. Öcalan and his companions. And there has been serious public suspicion on this issue. For this reason, Mr. Öcalan should immediately meet with his family and lawyers.

Imrali torture system is the most fundamental obstacle to a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish problem in Turkey. Democracy, freedom, justice and peace and a democratic solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey can be achieved through a resumption of dialogue and negotiations and putting an end to the isolation practice.

Your ministry should remove the obstacles to legal and constitutional rights of Mr. Öcalan.

HUNGER STRIKES WILL CONTINUE IF ISOLATION REMAINS IN PLACE

Your government has suspended the legal and constitutional rights of Mr. Öcalan and his companions through arbitrary practices under the pretext of "disciplinary investigations". For this reason, hunger strikes have started in prisons.

The indefinite-alternating hunger strikes that started at the end of November and which I took part in, will continue as long as the isolation policy remains in place."