International Delegation: Imrali prison is used as a model

  • actual
  • 16:47 28 January 2023
  • |
img
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 .”
 

View More Articles

14:36 'I want to meet Öcalan' campaign to be launched
14:23 Beginning of a new era
13:45 State must respond to expectations says Ahmet Türk
11:06 Events since 27 February
09:24 Bayık: Every step Leader Apo has taken resulted in victory
09:23 Commemorations to be held in many cities for Kaytan and Altun
13/05/2025
15:41 Abdullah Öcalan greets PKK congress, commemorates Kaytan and Altun
14:11 Kaytan and Altun commemoration in Tuzluçayır
13:20 Lawyers applies to meet with Abdullah Öcalan
13:19 Four day commemoration for Kaytan and Altun in Istanbul
12:21 Besê Hozat: We will all be pioneers of this process
11:59 Perspective of the new process is democratic socialism society says Remzi Kartal
11:16 Kurdish writers: Our only aim is to protect the language
10:44 Process is just beginning, the state must take steps says Journalist Bayramoğlu
09:55 From thesis 'Kurdistan is a colony' of Öcalan the establishment of the PKK...
12/05/2025
20:56 Mazloum Abdi: We believe new step will open the door to a peaceful process
20:47 Duran Kalkan tells Kaytan and Altun: No gain has been achieved easily
16:58 Ayşegül Doğan: It’s not just a dissolution decision, but a new reconstruction process
16:49 First statement from EU: Positive step to achieve peaceful and sustainable solution
16:43 Protest in Riha demands release of ill prisoners
16:29 Selahattin Demirtaş: Time to work together with sincerity
15:50 No excuse left not to build a democratic Turkey says Tuncer Bakırhan
15:44 Amed Bar Association Chair Güleç: Legal steps must be taken to build democratic ground
15:01 ASELSAN shares plummet following PKK statement
14:19 PUK Spokesperson: A positive step
13:56 Nechirvan Barzani: Historic decision that will open door to a new era
13:52 Parliament must step in says Pervin Buldan after historic decision of PKK
13:33 Historic decision of PKK makes global headlines
13:20 Chief Advisor to President Erdoğan: Comprehensive reforms to be implemented
12:42 AKP Deputy Chair Ala: Mechanisms will be operated as required
12:04 Details of the PKK Congress: Not an end, but a new beginning
11:57 Kaytan and Altun to be commemorated
11:29 PKK commemorates Sırrı Süreyya Önder
11:28 PKK Congress dedicated to Ali Haydar Kaytan and Rıza Altun
09:51 'The most critical step in the process is granting Kurdish a legal status'
09:03 Historic decision from the PKK: Activities under the PKK name have ended
11/05/2025
16:00 Democratic Unity Initiative: We set out to contribute to a democratic solution
15:30 DAD Co-chair Kadriye Doğan: Call of Öcalan is a hope for the Middle East
14:24 Release of 91 per cent disabled prisoner postponed for 5 more years
11:41 Physical freedom of Öcalan must be secured for process to progress says Cahit Kırkazak
10:13 Heval Dilbahar: If peace is to come, we must first make peace with Kurdish
08:53 ‘Mustafa Mesut Tekik dedicated his life to peace and living with dignity’
09/05/2025
16:04 Statement from DEM Party on PKK Congress: A historic turning point
14:44 Seven students detained in Amed
13:04 PKK: 12th Congress successfully held
12:53 DEM Party Spokesperson: It is a matter of time before PKK announces it has convened its congress
10:59 Families applies to go to İmralı
10:53 Sırrı fought for confronting the truth says Dicle Anter
10:05 "The right to hope regulation undoubtedly a step that must be taken"
09:50 Scale of deforestation in Gabar revealed by new footage