PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan has been held in isolation in the Type F High Security Prison in Imrali since the international conspiracy dated February 15, 1999, when he was brought to Turkey. PKK leader Öcalan was allowed to meet with his lawyers 5 times in 2019. After this date, lawyers were not allowed to go to the island. Abdullah Öcalan was last able to talk to his brother Mehmet Öcalan over the phone on March 25, 2021. There has been no news from Öcalan since the said date.

 

People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Legal Commission Co-Speakers Öztürk Türkdoğan and Sevda Çelik Özbingöl applied to the Ministry of Justice on May 30 to meet PKK leader Öcalan but there is still no response to the application.

 

Öztürk Türkdoğan evaluated their application and the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan.

 

'THIS OPPORTUNITY MUST NOT BE MISSED'

 

Stating that the Kurds see Abdullah Öcalan as a "leader", Türkdoğan said, "He is a leader, a leader, for the Kurds living in Turkey, Syria, Iran, Iraq, and the Kurds living in the diaspora. So if a person has reached such an important leader position historically, then this historical issue (Kurdish issue) can be solved with this person first."

 

Recalling the meetings held between Abdullah Öcalan and the state in the past, Türkdoğan stated that the state's approach to Abdullah Öcalan is equivalent to its approach towards the Kurdish issue. Türkdoğan said: "It is necessary to remind the state officials in Turkey that; Look, there were similar issues in the world. These issues were solved by determined and strong leaders. Therefore, historically, we still have a serious chance. Look, both the Kurds and other groups have repeatedly stated that they will recognize Öcalan's will on the solution point. In Turkey, there is a presidential model based on one person, and Mr. Erdogan is a strong political leader who rules Turkey. This opportunity must not be missed. I consider it a great injustice for Mr. Öcalan to be treated this way because of his leader position."

 

'THERE IS A SYSTEMATIC VIOLATION OF LAW'

 

Pointing out that the prisoners' right to visitation was not prevented during the martial law and coup processes, "They cannot even disguise the isolation. The disciplinary punishments given and the rejection of the objections made against them are all against the law. Is there a disciplinary punishment that lasts for 39 months? There is a serious systematic violation of law here. How can someone who is not allowed to see his lawyers be banned from seeing a lawyer?" Turkdogan asked and continued: "Let's say you met with your lawyer and you acted contrary there. Based on that, you will be banned from seeing a lawyer for once. But there is no lawyer visit. But you are banning lawyers from visiting. There is arbitrariness of arbitrariness here. The word illegality is an understatement for this. This is complete lawlessness."

 

'THE GOVERNMENT MUST MAKE A STATEMENT'

 

Emphasizing that the government must make a statement about the Imrali isolation, Türkdoğan said: "There is no need for such legal games. The Minister of Justice must come out and make a regular statement and say, 'We, as the government, are bearing the political consequences. We have made a political decision and we will not allow them to meet.' They don't say that either. Because it will have political consequences. What could someone who does not meet anyone have done to deserve disciplinary punishment?" 

 

Pointing to their application to go to Imrali, Türkdoğan said: "Our deputy friends had applied to the Parliamentary Human Rights Investigation Commission (IHİK). İHİK, in turn, forwarded these applications to the Ministry of Justice. For the first time, the Ministry sent a response to the commission. That response was open to manipulation. It says that Mr. Öcalan and his friends are meeting with each other. Then it says; 'There is no problem with the lawyer's visit.' Now, how can you tell the Parliament that there is 'no problem' about a person who is not allowed to see his lawyers? It is not telling the truth to the Parliament."

 

'TURKEY HAS TO MAKE PEACE WITH THE KURDS'

 

Türkdoğan said: "The current situation in the Middle East, Israel's continuation of its genocide in Gaza and the spread of the war to Iran show that Turkey now has to make peace with the Kurds. This is a must. Turkish political power needs to show this. Here too, this is an opportunity in terms of Mr. Öcalan's position. The Kurdish movement wants peace. There is Abdullah Öcalan, who has influence over the Kurds living in this geography. Therefore, its position is important. It is useful to remind; Abdullah Öcalan turned 75. I wish him good health. But we don't have time to wait. Both Turkey, the Kurds, those who are in favor of peace in Turkey and those who are in favor of democracy have a responsibility to build a new peace process as soon as possible."

 

 

'WE ARE ALWAYS READY'

 

Emphasizing that they are always ready for a solution, Türkdoğan underlined that they are ready for a new path and process if the AKP gives a positive response.  "We are always ready. It will be with whoever represents Turkish politics or the state. Dialogue and negotiation will be with them. Therefore, whoever is the ruling party will be with them. The issue is not an AKP issue" Türkdoğan said.

 

Stating that if a new process starts, opposition parties other than MHP will also support it, and said: "If AKP takes a step - I don't know about MHP because they are fed by war policies - I do not think other opposition parties will oppose."

 

'NORMALIZATION' STATEMENTS

 

Türkdoğan also reminded AKP Chair and President Tayyip Erdoğan's "normalization" statements and emphasized that "normalization" must start from Imrali. Türkdoğan continued as follows: "Let the lawyers and families of those in Imrali meet. Let there be a basis for discussion. Maybe Turkey will find a way out from here. Otherwise, problems will only be postponed. The political institution will remain unresolved again. The political institution must now find a solution. This solution depends on respecting everyone's rights and laws.”

 

MA / Mehmet Aslan