Concerns over the situation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan increased after the Executive Council Member of the Kurdistan Democratic Communities Union (KCK), Sabri Ok said in an interview on the Kurdish TV Channel Sterk TV on July 8 that threatening letters had recently been sent to Abdullah Öcalan anonymously via the Imrali prison administration.

Lawyers are requesting to meet with Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan twice a week. However, applications for visits are systematically left unanswered. In some cases, months later, lawyers are informed that disciplinary action has been taken against the Kurdish people's leader and therefore no visit can be granted.

In its annual report about rights violations in Turkish prisons, the Human Rights Association (IHD) stated that Öcalan has not been heard from for 29 months.

The Syrian Revolutionary Youth Movement and Young Women’s Union in Raqqa organised a march in protest at the aggravated isolation of Öcalan.

Hundreds of people from Raqqa and its countryside attended the march, as well as members of civil and military councils, representatives of political parties and çivil society organizations.

Following the march from Raqqa Children’s Hospital to the Women’s Square (Qada Jinê), a press statement was made on behalf of the demonstrators, read out by Mihemed Elî, a member of the Syrian Revolutionary Youth Movement.

Elî condemned the isolation of Öcalan, which, he said, was implemented in line with the plans of disruption and occupation in the Middle East.

“Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s freedom is our freedom. For this very reason, we pledge to continue our struggle until his physical freedom is achieved,” Elî said.