Kurdish politician Sibel Yiğitalp, a former MP of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), pointed to the growing concerns over the lack of information on Kurdish leader Öcalan for 21 months, as well as the connection between the isolation and the war.

Sibel Yiğitalp, who was a member of the Prison Commission, closely followed the rights violations in Turkish prisons between 2015-2018 and raised the topic in the parliament.

Interviewed by ANF, Yiğitalp said that Turkish prisons have currently been turned into torture places. Yiğitalp added: “For example, prison administrations do not release those who were sentenced to life and have been in prison for 30 years. More than 100 people are not released arbitrarily on grounds of disciplinary punishments, even though they have served 30 years. In addition, 618 sick prisoners, who are on the verge of death, should be released as soon as possible, but prison administrations keep them. However, I believe that the number of ill prisoners is higher because access to health remains very difficult. Although the images showing the torture that Garibe Gezer was subjected to in prison have been revealed, no investigation has been launched. 65 people suspiciously lost their lives in prisons within a year. Authorities cite diseases or suicides as the cause of death. However, security measures are very strict in prisons.”

ILL TREATMENT IN PRISONS STEMS FROM ISOLATION IN IMRALI

Yiğitalp underlined that the heavy tortures in prisons take their source from the practices in the Imrali prison, adding that the isolation of Kurdish people's leader Öcalan has spread to the whole country. Yiğitalp said: “As long as the isolation of Mr. Öcalan continues, violence and violations of rights in prisons will continue.”

WAR WILL CONTINUE

Yiğitalp continued: “The persistence of torture, violence and isolation Mr. Öcalan is subjected to shows that the war will escalate and the invasion attacks in South Kurdistan and Rojava will continue.”

TURKISH STATE IS NOT ALONE

Yiğitalp called attention to the international character of the isolation system, as in the conspiracy against Öcalan in 1999. Yiğitalp said: “Turkey has neither the courage nor the strength to do this alone. The Turkish state knows very well that Mr. Öcalan is a major political figure whom millions accept as a leader and the chief negotiator for peace.”

CPT MUST RELEASE STATEMENT

Kurdish politician Yiğitalp criticized the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT)'s failure to make any statement about whether its delegation had met Öcalan during a recent visit to the İmralı prison. She said that the CPT should break its silence and make a statement while millions of people are worried about Öcalan’s health status.