While the hunger strike action initiated on November 27 to demand an end to the continued isolation in İmralı moves on to its 13th day, the aggravated isolation in İmralı is deepening. Since 15 March 2015, family meetings have been held only on June 5, August 12, 2019 and March 2, 2020. After the fire that broke out in Imrali, the family visit was held on March 2.

 

While no positive or negative response was given to any application of the families after March 2, it was revealed that the family visits were banned on grounds of disciplinary punishments handed to the prisoners in İmralı. Asrın Law Office that learned that the prisoners in İmralı had a disciplinary punishment with the rejection of their application made on December 4, were not able to reach any details on the reason of the ban. In addition no information was obtained on how long the ban will continue.

 

LAWYER VISITS WERE BANNED

 

The 1st Execution Judge in Bursa banned the lawyer visits to prisoners Ömer Hayri Konar, Veysi Aktaş and Hamili Yıldırım, who were held together with Öcalan in İmralı, for the 156-page “Road Map” written by Öcalan in 2009 for 6 months. 

 

THE VISITATION RIGHT THAT THE PRISONERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO USE, WAS BANNED ANYWAY

 

Öcalan who was banned from using his right to be visited by his lawyers as well as his family, was able to use his right to a phonecall with his family for the first time in 21 years on April 27, 2020. While Öcalan's right to speak to his family on the phone was arbitrarily prevented, another ban was issued for Öcalan to speak to his family on the phone on September 7, effective for 6 months.

 

THE REASON FOR THE BAN REMAINS UNKNOWN

 

Rezan Sarıca, a lawyer of the Asrın Law Firm, who assumed the defense of Öcalan, stated that the families of Öcalan and other prisoners regularly apply to the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for a visit every week and that the applications have not been answered for a long time. Stating that not giving a positive or negative answer is an administrative rejection response, but there is no written response, Sarıca said, “The last family application made on December 4 was rejected. In the refusal, disciplinary penalties are mentioned as justification. We do not yet know on what grounds the disciplinary punishment was given. We haven't seen the content of the file." 

 

THEY LEARNED ABOUT THE BAN AFTER 2 MONTHS

 

Sarıca also said that they recieved the rejection notice 2 months after their application and said: "Therefore our right to object the decision was expired and the punishment decision is finalized." Stating that the reason for the disciplinary punishments are being hidden from them, Sarıca told that the reason for that is to prevent them from objecting these decisions.

 

'WE SEE HOW THE ISOLATION SYSTEM WORKS'

 

Sarıca said: “Legally, we need to be informed as the disciplinary investigation has started. However, looking at the implementation, it shows us once again how the Imrali isolation system is operated ”.

 

MA / Erdogan Alayumat