ISTANBUL - Asrın Law Firm stated that they have not heard from Abdullah Ocalan and other clients in Imralı for 3 years and that Imralı Island is kept behind a curtain of secrecy and called for an end to the lack of news.
Asrın Law Firm published a written statement regarding the fact that it has not been heard from its clients, PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan, Omer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktas, who are held in Imralı F-Type High Security Prison, for 3 years, as of March 25, 2021.
In the statement, the office stated that they had not heard from their clients for 3 years and underlined that no meetings were allowed despite all the judicial and administrative applications they made. In the statement, it was pointed out that the island of Imralı, where the state of absolute lack of communication is maintained with illegal practices, is kept behind a "veil of secrecy".
DECISION AUTHORITIES COMMITTING CRIMES
The full statement made by Asrın Law Firm is as follows: "The current state of absolute lack of communication is maintained by de facto and arbitrary practices as well as 'judicial decisions' that have no basis in Turkish legislation. Disciplinary penalties that are cited as a reason for banning family visits and decisions that prevent lawyer visits are contrary to the legislation and constitute a crime for the decision-making authorities. In addition, the right to correspondence and telephone communication is not granted. However, in accordance with Mandela's rules, it is not possible to completely sever ties with the outside world. Under all circumstances, prisoners must have minimum communication with the outside world. Minimum criteria are not met, and the files and decisions based on these practices are hidden from lawyers.
IMRALI ISLAND BEHIND A CURTAIN OF SECRET
With these practices, Imralı Island is kept behind a curtain of mystery. Access to the slightest information about the current situation of our clients held in an island prison, especially their families and us, the society, has been blocked uninterruptedly for 3 years. We do not have any information about our clients' right to health, especially their other fundamental vital rights guaranteed by domestic and international law.
HEAVY TORTURE
The state of absolute lack of communication, which has no other example in the historical process, is a severe model of torture. As a result of our application to the United Nations Human Rights Committee requesting an injunction to immediately put an end to the state of absolute lack of communication, which is implemented as a dimension of this torture regime and has no equivalent in the legal order, the Committee issued an injunction. In September 2022, the Committee called on the Turkish Government to 'end the incommunicado captivitiy to which the applicants are subjected and provide the applicants with immediate and unrestricted access to a lawyer of their own choice'. Since this injunction was not complied with, the committee repeatedly conveyed to the Government that the injunction must be complied with in January 2023. However, the Government once again put domestic and international law aside, did not implement the injunction and insisted on a policy of absolute non-communication.
CPT VISIT
The CPT visited Imralı Prison in September 2022, when the state of absolute lack of communication continued to deepen. However, it has still not disclosed its report regarding this visit, nor has he made a minimal statement to the public regarding the clients' health and imprisonment conditions. Again, the European Court of Human Rights refuses to decide on the critical application regarding the isolation practices in Imralı prison, even though it has been before it for 13 years. Undoubtedly, this attitude of the Council organs, together with the Government, confirms the fact that the practices in Imrali are maintained not by legal decisions but by political decisions taken at the international level.
ISOLATION REGIME MUST BE ENDED
It is also clear that the absolute isolation regime targets the democratic, ecological, women's libertarian society proposition developed by Mr. Ocalan. The strong solution projects he put forward despite the severe isolation regime, the struggle he displayed on behalf of the people, the intellectual and ideological power he generated; It has become the most alternative life model against the politics of polarization and war, not only in Turkey but in the entire Middle East. Therefore, ending the isolation regime imposed on Mr. Ocalan will be the biggest step towards rebuilding democracy in Turkey and the Middle East. It has clearly been seen that the policies of absolute non-communication applied to Mr. Ocalan are reflected in every aspect of life.
CALL TO RELEVANT INTERESTERS
As the isolation policies implemented in Imralı deepen, the multiple crises into which the people of Turkey are dragged, especially the Kurdish issue, grow larger. The only way to get out of this multiple crisis and build a democratic, peaceful society is to ensure Mr. Ocalan's connection with the outside world. In order to overcome the historical and social problems experienced in our geography, it is of vital importance to end the isolation, which is a state of absolute lack of communication. While the masses who are aware of this reality are increasing their reaction in every field, the 'not seeing' attitude of those who are responsible for leading the society in politics, law, civil society and all considered intellectuals is unacceptable. On this occasion, we call on the relevant interlocutors to express the truth and take ownership of their primary responsibilities.
INCOMMUNOCADO MUST STOP
In this context, we would like to point out again that; In accordance with the responsibility and obligation required by the principles of domestic law and international law, all rights of our clients, especially the right to a lawyer's meet, must be provided immediately, without any restrictions. The situation of not receiving news for 3 years, which has caused great anxiety for us as lawyers and the majority of the society, must be stopped."