NORŞAN ABDÎ

Kobanê– The Turkish state has imposed an aggravated isolation on Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan in the prison island of Imrali for 25 years by violating international laws and conventions. For about 40 months, his lawyers and family members have not been allowed to see him. Although his lawyers have applied to see their clients many times, their applications have been denied on the grounds of “disciplinary” punishments given to him.

 ‘They aim to prevent his thoughts from spreading’

Various activities have been organized in many countries to protest the ongoing isolation imposed on Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. In an interview with NuJINHA, Ruşan Hacim, a lawyer in Kobanê and co-chair of the Social Justice Council of North and East Syria, evaluated the ongoing isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan. Stressing that the rights of Abdullah Öcalan have been violated in the prison island of Imrali, she said, “The Turkish state aims to prevent his thought from spreading all around the world by violating international laws and conventions.”

‘The Turkish state violates its own laws’

“When leader Öcalan was arrested, his lawyers and family members were given information about his health. However, the isolation imposed on him was then intensified. In recent years, an aggravated isolation has been imposed on him. The Turkish state has been violating not only international conventions but also its own laws by imposing the isolation on him. Every person has the right to see his/her lawyers and family members when he/she is arrested.”

‘The CPT does not fulfill its duty’

Ruşan Hacim recalled that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has not released any statement about its latest visit to Imrali and said, “This situation shows that it does not fulfill its duty and that it is not impartial. No news has been received from Abdullah Öcalan for about 40 months. Everyone knows that Abdullah Öcalan is the solution key for all problems and crises suffered by the world and the Middle East.”