ISTANBUL - MAF-DAD Vice President Mahmut Şakar said that they will hold a march with the participation of hundreds of thousands throughout Europe on the anniversary of the February 15 conspiracy and that they plan to send a delegation to İmralı.

 

The international conspiracy carried out on February 15, 1999 against PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is held under absolute isolation conditions in İmralı Type F High Security Prison and has not been heard from since March 25, 2021. The international conspiracy will enter its 26th year. During these years, actions and events continued uninterruptedly in Kurdistan, Turkey and abroad. The "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, solution to the Kurdish issue" campaign, which was last launched in 74 European centers on October 10, 2023, continues to expand. 

 

Mahmut Şakar, Vice President of the International Association for Law and Democracy (MAF-DAD), talked about the isolation imposed on Öcalan and the freedom campaign carried out in this context.

 

Vice President of  MAF-DAD, Mahmut Şakar 

 

'THE DARKEST POINT'

 

 Stating that the Imrali isolation system was specially built as a part and result of the lawlessness that started with the kidnapping of Öcalan from Syria in 1999 with an international conspiracy, Şakar said: “Imrali island can be described as an area where even the most backward law in Turkey does not operate. The Imrali isolation system was established illegally from the very beginning. That's why we describe it as an area free of law. In the past, Mr. Öcalan's family and lawyer visits were restricted and blocked from time to time. But we can say that today is the worst and darkest point reached within the Imrali isolation system in the last 34 months”

 

'DEADLOCK DEEPENS THE ISOLATION'

 

 Öcalan's health condition has exceeded the limits of concern. This situation is not explained by law, there is a metaphorical approach. The AKP-MHP government deepened the isolation as part of their policy of war and destruction on the Kurdish issue. The main source of all political issues regarding the Kurds is deadlock.

 

'THERE HAS NOT BEEN A LAWYER VISIT FOR 13 YEARS'

 

Reminding that Öcalan was constantly prevented from meeting with his lawyers, and the last short meeting was held in 2019, Şakar said: “To claim that there was adverse weather conditions for 5 years (2011-2016) or to say that the ship was broken is to mock the human mind. There are nearly a thousand security officers, soldiers and guards in İmralı. Everyone knows that food and drink are brought to them on a daily basis. Although this is known, the justification presented by the prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Justice actually reveals the logic of the approach to İmralı. When it comes to Mr. Öcalan and the Kurdish issue, the state-mind does not even need to give you a reason”

 

‘BASIC LAW WAS NOT IMPLEMENTED'

 

Adding that although there have been thousands of files and applications in domestic law regarding Öcalan since February 15, 1999, not a single positive decision has been found, Şakar continued as follows: “In the field of international law, there are violation decisions, especially given by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). In 2014, the ECHR stated that the practices in İmralı were against the ban on torture. They also stated that aggravated life imprisonment was a violation of the prohibition of torture. And they stated that due to the right of hope, it must be reviewed at the end of 25 years. In the application made to the United Nations (UN) human rights committee, the committee issued an injunction and demand Turkey to explain why Mr. Öcalan was not allowed to meet with his lawyers. There are positive decisions in the field of international law, but the main issue is that we are faced with a state approach that does not take these decisions seriously. The Republic of Turkey has not implemented four basic international law decisions so far and is trying to invalidate it by prolonging them over time”

 

ATTITUDE OF INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

 

Criticizing the attitude of political mechanisms that follow the decisions of international legal institutions, Şakar said: “The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which is responsible for implementing the decisions of the ECHR, has not fulfilled their duties so far. In 2014, the ECHR made a decision regarding the right to hope. The Committee of Ministers put this on their agenda 7 years later and there is still no progress. The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has also published 9 reports so far. There are some recommendations in that report that Turkey must follow, but they were not followed either. The CPT is also a European institution, so the council must take an approach when it comes to complying with its decisions. Therefore, this political mechanism enters into a compromise with Turkey on the isolation and Kurdish issue”

 

RELATIONS BASED ON INTEREST

 

Drawing attention to Europe's political and economic interest relations with Turkey, Şakar said: "Although there is tension between the West and Turkey in the political arena from time to time, none of these tensions develop regarding the implementation of the decisions of the European Human Rights Council. One of the main forces we will hold accountable are these institutions. We must match these institutions as much as we criticize the Republic of Turkey. Mechanisms such as the CPT and the Council of Europe Ministerial Committee, which are primarily responsible for Turkey's interlocutors, do not fulfill their duties arising from international agreements. They are at least as responsible as Turkey for not taking a stance on this issue”

 

A MARCH OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS

 

Emphasizing that the Kurds and other people have a tremendous resistance against the isolation policies, Şakar concluded his words as follows: “In accordance with the political character of the isolation, the Kurds, including Mr. Öcalan, have been in a serious attitude and resistance for 25 years. Especially the translation of Mr. Öcalan's books into foreign languages aroused great interest from people other than Kurds. This interest also turned into a reaction against the isolation conditions in which Mr. Öcalan was found. The campaign, which started in 74 centers in Europe on October 10, continues. Mr. Öcalan's books and works were read regarding this. Panels, walks, reading days and postcard sending activities continue. Long and mass marches will continue from all over in February, also due to the anniversary of the conspiracy. Apart from that, there will be a march followed by a rally targeting hundreds of thousands of people across Europe on February 17th. There is a plan for a political delegation to visit Imrali if Turkey allows. The isolation conditions of Mr. Öcalan, his freedom and, in connection with this, the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue are at the center of global solidarity."

 

MA / Esra Solin Dal