BERÇEM CÛDÎ

Kobanê- No news has been received from Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been kept under aggravated isolation in the Imrali High-security Prison for 24 years, Ömer Hayri Konar, Veysi Aktaş and Hamili Yıldırım for 19 months. Their lawyers and families have applied to see their clients and relatives; however, they are prevented from seeing them. The European Committee against Torture (CPT) visited the prison in September. Nesra Xelîl, lawyer and member of the Euphrates Region Justice Council, spoke to NuJINHA about the ongoing isolation imposed upon Abdullah Öcalan.

“Laws have been violated in Imrali for 24 years”

Speaking about the isolation imposed upon Abdullah Öcalan for 24 years, Nesra Xelîl said, “The conspiracy against Abdullah Öcalan is a violation of human rights. The states involved in the conspiracy, particularly the Turkish state, must be punished. Keeping him in Imrali prison under isolation is a violation of international law. Leader Apo is a political prisoner. He has been kept in the prison alone. His lawyers and family members are not allowed to see him.”

“The CPT does not fulfill its responsibilities”

Speaking about the stance of the CPT about the Imrali, she said, “The rights violations that we talk about are openly practiced. However, human rights organizations and institutions have remained silent against these rights violations for years. In addition, the trial against leader Apo was an unjust trial. Many lawyers and NGOs have reported the rights violations and inhuman practices against Abdullah Öcalan to the CPT. Due to the ongoing rights violations and inhuman practices in Turkey’s prisons, the CPT has decided to visit Turkey’s prisons every three months. The Imrali prison is one of these prisons.”

“A report must be released”

Adding that the CPT visited Turkey’s prisons and the Imrali prison from September 20 to 30; however, it did not make any statement about the situation of Abdullah Öcalan, Nesra Xelîl said, “The CTP, an international organization, visited prisons under the control of the Turkish state. After the visit, the CTP released a short report, including no details. As lawyers, we call on the international human rights organizations and institutions to act in accordance with the law. They must fulfill their responsibilities. The CPT must release a comprehensive report on its visit. We, as lawyers, will continue to work in order to break the isolation imposed upon Abdullah Öcalan and for his freedom.”

“Laws are implemented in Turkey according to the interests of the state”

“There is no law and justice in the system of Turkey,” Nesra Xelîl said, “There is no right to hope in the Turkish state system. The Turkish state does not include this right to its system due to its own political interests. The Turkish state violates the rights of prisoners. This issue must be immediately solved.”,