The isolation policies against prisoners in prisons continue. In all prisons, there are many violations such as visitation and communication bans, eviction restrictions, violence, solitary confinement, access to health and social rights. The most serious violations are taking place in İmralı Type F High Security Closed Prison where PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan is held. No news has been received from Öcalan and the 3 prisoners held in İmralı for 42 months.  

 

Families also experience the isolation policies against their imprisoned relatives in different ways. Some families have been unable to visit their relatives for many years because they have been transferred to prisons far away from them. They are also negatively affected by the restrictions and bans on releases.  

 

FAMILIES ARE ALSO IN ISOLATION

 

The family of Ethem Göktürk, who is being held in Yozgat Type T Closed Prison No. 2, living in Serêkaniyê (Ceylanpınar) district of Riha (Urfa) is in a similar situation. Göktürk was detained in 2018 in Qoser (Kızıltepe) district of Mêrdîn and was subjected to violence for 12 days. After 12 days, Göktürk was arrested by the court to which he was referred and put in Urfa Type T Closed Prison. In the following period, an indictment was prepared against Göktürk on charges of “being a member of an illegal organization”, “aiding an illegal organization” and “possessing firearms”. 

 

Göktürk was sentenced to 24 years in prison at the final hearing held at Urfa 3rd High Criminal Court in October 2022. Appeals to higher courts failed and the Court of Cassation upheld the verdict on June 27. The family's lawyers then filed an individual application to the Constitutional Court (AYM). 

 

'YOU ARE THE ONES UNDER ISOLATION'

 

Göktürk's sister Zeliha Göktürk said that her brother is being held in a prison far away from them and this situation affects them negatively. Göktürk stated that they can visit her brother once every 3 months and that they have been on the road since 2018. Göktürk said that the visitation periods are short and that some families cannot go to the visits due to the long distances. 

 

Göktürk said that her brother often pointed to the isolation in prisons and her brother said: “We are in a better situation than you. Because you are under pressure. Yes, we are also under pressure, but we do not oppress ourselves. You are the ones under isolation. As long as you keep silent, you will also be oppressed. At least we can make a voice here.” 

 

'SOCIAL SOLIDARITY MUST BE INCREASED'

 

Göktürk said that those on the outside are under more isolation than the prisoners, “We cannot speak a word, we cannot raise our voices. There is too much pressure. As families of prisoners, we want to make our voices heard by everyone. We want everyone to hear our voices. Maybe our pain is not felt one-on-one, because those outside of us are not aware that they are under isolation. Some people think that only their neighbors are experiencing this problem, but they and their families are actually under isolation” she emphasized that social solidarity against the isolation against prisoners must be increased.

 

MOTHER AND FATHER HAVE NOT SEEN THEIR CHILDREN FOR 9 YEARS

 

The Şahin family, who live in the Pirsûs (Suruç) district of Riha, is one of the families who have experienced isolation in similar ways. Nihat Şahin, who is held in Tekirdağ Prison, was arrested in 1995 after being detained in Licê (Lice) district of Amed. He was tried by the State Security Court and sentenced to life imprisonment.  

 

Brother Ekrem Şahin stated that his brother has been held in Tekirdağ prison since 2015. Şahin said that their parents have not been able to see their son for 9 years due to health problems. 

 

“Since almost everyone in our family has been in prison, I have experienced this isolation in some way. Between 2010 and 2014, 7 of us were in prison at the same time, one sister, two aunts and 4 brothers. Sometimes the visits overlapped. Some were held in Urfa and Adana, some in Adıyaman and some in Amed. But we cannot go to one of our brothers. Because he is far away” he said. 

 

'THE PUBLIC MUST BE SENSITIVE'

 

Stating that the isolation of prisoners is linked to the political atmosphere, Şahin noted that this policy has deepened especially after the end of the “solution process” between 2013 and 2015. 

 

Şahin continued as follows: “We stood firm with the belief that these fascist practices would end and we still carry that belief. Isolation is an arbitrary practice. There are arbitrary practices imposed on Mr. Öcalan and the people he stays with in İmralı. The lack of communication from Mr. Öcalan causes great anxiety in the society. This arbitrariness has captured Turkey. Many of Turkey's problems stem from this. The public needs to be more sensitive about this process.” 

 

MA / Ceylan Şahinli