Lawyer Mihemed Emin Naim said that the isolation imposed on Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan has no legal explanation and is contrary to Turkey's laws and international conventions. "Turkey does not implement the European Court of Human Rights decisions, which it has an obligation to comply with. Its crimes are ignored," he said.

Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held in Imrali F Type High Security Prison for almost 24 years under severe isolation conditions, has not been heard from for 19 months. Speaking to ANF, lawyer Mihemed Emin Naimi said that the isolation system is directed not only against Öcalan, but also against the Kurdish people and all oppressed peoples.

Not a choice, a must

Noting that it is a legal and legitimate right for Öcalan to meet with his lawyers and family, lawyer Naimi said:  "Persons detained under UN law cannot be exempted from their rights. Acting in accordance with UN laws is not an option, it is a must for Turkey. Öcalan has been subjected to torture and isolation in Imrali since 15 February 1999. His abduction was the result of a conspiracy, and his trial was unfair."

Stating that international forces and institutions do not comply with the law when it comes to the Kurdish people and their leader, lawyer Naimi continued: “The basis of the judgments made by the ECHR is the European Convention on Human Rights. It is the Council of Europe that supervises the implementation of these decisions and has the power to sanction those who don’t comply with them. The Council of Europe is silent against Turkey's refusal to recognize these resolutions. It violates Article 51 of the UN, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the 1907 Hague Agreement.”

Right to hope applies to everyone 

Underlining that the countries, institutions and organizations that turned a blind eye to the violations committed against Abdullah Öcalan are also partners in the isolation, lawyer Naimi said: “According to international law, the 'right to hope' is legitimate and legal. Aggravated isolation in Syria is for 20 years, in Europe is reviewed every 4 years. In Turkey, this should be reviewed every 25 years. When you say that Turkey does not act within its own laws, it is not a refrain. If the 'right to hope' needs to be reviewed every 25 years and this is not done, then the country is breaking its own laws. "The UN has the right to intervene when a country violates the law, but it uses this power for its own interests and remains silent."

Reminding that the CPT visited Imralı once again recently, lawyer Mihemed Emin Naimi added: “Instead of making a statement and sharing its observations, the CPT normalizes the situation and waits for Turkey's approval to publish the report. The CPT does not take a just and principled stance. It does not fulfil its duties and responsibilities.”