İSTANBUL - Stating that the CPT's stance was effective in the continuation of the isolation torture in Imrali, lawyer Mahmut Şakar said: "The new government that will be formed should eliminate this grave violation of rights in case the AKP-MHP loses in the May 14 elections."

 

PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who was brought to Turkey with an international conspiracy on February 15, 1999 and put in the İmralı Type F High Security Prison, has been held in severe isolation for 24 years and has not been heard from in any way for more than 2 years. Lawyer, family and guardian interview applications are blocked on the grounds of "disciplinary" penalties.

 

The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), which visited Turkey in September 2022, visited Imrali Prison, but no information was given to the public about whether there had been any meetings with Abdullah Öcalan and other prisoners Ömer Hayri Konar, Veysi Aktaş and Hamili Yıldırım. The CPT, which has the authority to make statements in cases of emergency and torture, continues to remain silent in Imrali. It was learned that the CPT, which completed its report on its last visit to Turkey, sent this report to Turkey at the beginning of March.

 

Mahmut Şakar, one of Abdullah Öcalan's lawyers, made evaluations about the attitude of the CPT and the report sent to Turkey.

 

CPT IS EFFECTIVE IN THE CONTINUATION OF THE ISOLATION 

 

Noting that this stance of the CPT is effective in the continuation of the isolation and torture, Şakar siad: "The following regarding the CPT's authority to make a statement: “If the CPT cannot solve the existing problem with routine operation, it uses this authority. That's why it's authorized. If the cpt can't solve that problem with the member state, if that violation is insisted on, it have the authority to make a public statement to overcome it; terefore, by informing all states and civil society, the CPT pressure the country that continues that violation and force it to take steps. That's why this authority has been given. If the CPT will not use this authority about Imrali, which has not been heard for 2 years, when will it use it? That's why the tone of our criticism of the CPT is increasing. We expect them to take an honest and effective stance.”

 

Şakar pointed out that the reports prepared by the CPT and sent to Turkey have been announced, but this latest report has spread over time, adding that in the previous processes, Turkey also prepared its own report and continued the routine procedure despite the criticisms, determinations and suggestions in the CPT's report.

 

Şakar said: “The government often prefers to wait for the most suitable political environment for it; therefore, there is no certainty as to when the CPT will publish its report. However, the current situation is unsustainable. It cannot be avoided by squeezing into normal procedures.”

 

CPT SHOULD STOP THE ILLEGAL ATTITUDE

 

Making a call to the Ministry of Justice, Şakar said: “Turkey needs to give up this attitude, which is against domestic and international law; however, we see that the current government is not in a position to eliminate this, on the contrary, it wants to build a regime of oppression and violence through the isolation imposed on Mr. Abdullah Öcalan. There is no need to wait for the CPT report to make the lawyer's opinion. This is the normal law. It's a de facto government action. We can once again demand that it should give up on this. Lawyers do this on a regular basis, anyway. But in the current situation, I have no optimism that the government will do that.”

 

AFTER MAY 14 ELECTION

 

Pointing to the presidential and parliamentary elections to be held on May 14, Şakar said: "The newly formed government should eliminate this gross violation of rights in case the AKP-MHP loses; besides, I do not think that any democratic step will come other than a government that will not eliminate a clear violation of law such as isolation. For the Kurdish people, this will be a phenomenon that will test the seriousness and approach of the new government. At the beginning of the basic demands voiced by the Kurdish people, both in Newroz and in the election atmosphere, the end of isolation and the freedom of political prisoners came to the fore. This will be important data not only in terms of the demands of the Kurdish people, but also in terms of removing the damage caused by the AKP-MHP and making a new start. I think it will be the basic measure for the Kurds to understand the difference between the old and the new." 

 

MA / Mehmet Aslan