Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Rîha (Urfa) Deputy Ömer Öcalan has applied to the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey requesting a meeting with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held under severe isolation in Imrali Type F High Security Closed Prison for more than 25 years. DEM Party Deputy Öcalan, who applied to the General Secretariat of the Presidency via fax and mail, drew attention to the fact that Abdullah Öcalan is not allowed to meet with his lawyers and family. 

 

VISIT REQUEST

 

The application pointed to the injunction taken by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee against the ongoing isolation of Abdullah Öcalan, and reminded that applications were made to the Parliamentary Human Rights Investigation Commission (İHİK) upon the failure to take any steps despite the injunction. 

 

The application stated that IHIK claimed that there is no isolation and said: “In the reply dated February 23, it was written that İmralı prisoners were not allowed to meet with their lawyers and relatives on the grounds of disciplinary penalties, and that there was no ban on letters and faxes. It was stated that there was no disciplinary penalty in 2023 regarding lawyer visits, but no explanation was given as to why family and lawyer visits could not be made.” 

 

The application drew attention to the respect for family life in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and requested a meeting with Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı.