ISTANBUL- Members of the International Delegation Against Isolation stated that the Imrali isolation system is a method of torture and that it affects the whole society, and drew attention to the fact that Imrali Island is used as a model.

 

The International Delegation Against Isolation organized the "International Forum Against Isolation" in Istanbul after their visits and contacts for 3 days in Diyarbakır, Istanbul and Ankara. Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-chairperson Berdan Öztürk, Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) Co-Spokesperson Cengiz Çiçek, Democratic Regions Party (Democratic Regions Party) DBP) Co-Chair Saliha Aydeniz, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Spokesperson Ebru Günay and MPs, Asrın Law Office lawyers, Lawyers' Association for Freedom (ÖHD) Co-General Bünyamin Şeker and center administrators, representatives of non-governmental organizations and many people attended.

 

'24 YEARS OF ISOLATION CANNOT BE SUMMARY IN 10 MINUTES'

 

Underlining that as Abdullah Öcalan's lawyers, the 24 years of isolation cannot be summarized in 10 minutes, Emran Emekçi, one of the lawyers of the Asrın Law Office said: “At the beginning of the 21st century, the Imrali isolation system peculiar to client Abdullah Öcalan, which has an international dimension, was built in violation of international law, the constitution and laws. We have entered the 24th year of this isolation system, which has been gradually aggravated over time. To summarize briefly; The establishment of 1999-2005, the aggravation step by step between 2005 and 2015, and the absolute isolation that broke the ties with the outside world after 2015 have been transformed into absolute lack of communication and inability to receive news from 2021 to the present, which has not even been heard from the clients for two years. It would not take ten minutes to explain these stages, but I will try to conclude the 24-year isolation period by completing it with 2022 data in short paragraphs.”

 

ISOLATION IS A POLITICAL PROBLEM

 

Anya Tamara from the German Republican Lawyers Organization, who is in the Diyarbakır delegation, touched on the effects of the isolation on society and said: “It is necessary to look at how the isolation of political actors affects society. We have seen the destruction caused by the isolation. Isolation is not only a legal issue, it is also a political issue." 

 

'ISOLATION IS TORTURE METHOD'

 

Michela Arricale from the European Democratic Lawyers Union from the Ankara delegation stated that the isolation is a method of torture and said: “The right to communicate and obtain information is prevented in Imralı. This situation is also contrary to Article 3 of the ECtHR. We wanted to create a very detailed picture with these visits. We think that this crime should be eliminated and investigated. It is clear that such practices do not fully comply with international standards. We reported all of them.”

 

'CPT MUST REQUEST VERIFICATION'

 

Recalling the meeting of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture on Imrali Island in September, Michela Arricale from the European Democratic Lawyers Association from the Ankara delegation said: It is not right to think that. We don't exactly think anyone would reject them that way. The CPT at least asks for confirmation from Öcalan himself or confirms it from his lawyer. The CPT can also arrange a meeting for a different week. If this is not met, the CPT cannot play this role. This possible lie may hinder their own business in the future. Other prisoners in Imrali are also unable to exercise their right of opinion. The CPT does not reveal this quickly in its reports, either.”

 

'IT IS USED AS A MODEL OF IMRALI'

 

Stating that although the state of unlawfulness in Imrali is mentioned in the CPT reports and the absolute lack of communication continues, Cedric D'Hondt, a member of the Brussels Bar Association said: “The practices in Imrali prison are used as a model for other prisons in Turkey. We heard about the bad conditions, we learned that family visits were blocked, family members were subjected to stripped searches. We saw that lawyer visits were blocked. This is also the case in other prisons in the country. Prisoners are denied access to healthcare. We have reported all this and it needs to be fixed as soon as possible”.

 

ISOLATION WILL LOSE, FREEDOM WILL WIN

 

The place where lawlessness started in Turkey is İmralı Island. All illegalities and arbitrariness are applied in a way that penetrates our lives first in Imrali and then in Turkey. The recording of lawyer meetings after 2015, the restrictions on family meetings, the spread of the Imrali isolation system to the country. Curfews, overflowing violence and torture are reflections of the Imrali isolation system. We will increase our insistence against isolation. It is time to raise our voices on different floors. The isolation will lose, the freedom of the peoples will win. Freedom will be for all peoples in the country .”