URFA - Stating that their application to the Ministry of Justice to meet with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan has not yet been answered, HDP MP Ömer Öcalan said: "We will continue our struggle until the isolation is ended and negotiations are established."

 

PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is being held in İmralı Type F High Security Closed Prison, has not been heard from since his interrupted phone call with his family on 25 March 2021. It was revealed that Abdullah Öcalan, who had not been heard for 19 months, was given a new 6-month ban on lawyers on October 21. Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chairs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, HDP Party Spokesperson Ebru Günay and HDP Urfa MP Ömer Öcalan applied to the Ministry of Justice to meet with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan on October 20; however, it has been learned that the application for meeting has not yet been answered.

 

One of the applicants, HDP's Ömer Öcalan, evaluated the disciplinary punishments, the state of not being heard and the silence of international institutions against the isolation.

 

'THERE IS A STATE OF ISOLATION IN IMRALI'

 

Stating that he applied to meet with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan as his family every week, but no response was received, Öcalan said: "There was no news from the other 3 prisoners held in İmralı. An illegal law is in effect in Imrali. They do not want the leader of this people to communicate with his family, lawyers and people. This persecution and this torture has been going on on Imrali Island for 24 years. There is a state of isolation in Imrali."

 

'LAWS ARE NOT IMPLEMENTED FOR ÖCALAN'

 

Reminding that until 2011, lawyers and families could go to visit Öcalan, Öcalan said: "After 2011 a new concept came into play. A delegation from HDP went to Imrali Island during the period between 2013 and 2015, which was called the 'solution process' and the lawyers of the Kurdish People's Leader were able to meet him 4 times in 6-7 years. The laws are not implemented for Öcalan in Turkey. A laboratory was built on the island of Imrali. We do not believe that this place is under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice. The mechanism here is under Erdogan's auspices. Erdogan makes the obstructions and prohibitions there in his palace."

 

NO RESPONSE TO HDP'S APPLICATION

 

Stating that Abdullah Öcalan's voice was prevented from reaching the public, Öcalan said: "I also had concerns about Öcalan's health. We applied to the Ministry of Justice as a party. We applied for the solution of the society's problems because we knew that the address was İmralı. So far, no response has been given to our application. Abdullah Öcalan is the solution to end the conflicts that have been going on for 40 years. When Mr. Öcalan speaks and fulfills his role, the society finds comfort and peace. That's why our party's application is important. We continue our efforts to end the isolation. Kurdistan is now under fire. Banned weapons and chemical weapons have begun to be used. The children of these people are losing their lives. Dialogue and negotiations are needed to end this war."

 

'CPT WAITS FOR PERMISSION FROM TORTURERS'

 

Stating that he likened the laws in Turkey to "tire", Öcalan said: "The 'collapse plan' taken at the 2014 National Security Council is still in effect. The isolation has been intensified since April 5, following the Dolmabahçe Consensus. The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) also remained silent on this situation. The CPT's statement that it could not publish its reports without Turkey's permission. They are waiting for permission from the torturers."

 

RIGHT OF HOPE

 

Responding to Turkey's exemption of the PKK Leader from the "right of hope" in the "Action Plan" it submitted to the Council of Europe, Öcalan said:" Turkey's stance is a discriminatory law. There can be no such hostility. This is not an answer. This war is to deepen the problems. Turkish state cannot keep a person in prison forever. This is a great hostility and a great cruelty."

 

'WE WILL CONTINUE OUR STRUGGLE UNTIL THE ISOLATION IS ENDED'

 

Stating that the Kurdish people should raise their voices against the isolation, Öcalan said: "Our people in Europe, the people of Kurdistan and their friends should raise their voices against the isolation. Mr. Öcalan has been in heavy isolation for 24 years. Mr. Öcalan has not been allowed to meet with his lawyer and family for 19 months. A great and strong unity is needed. Resistance and struggle are needed for this. We will continue our struggle until the isolation is ended, talks are established, and Mr. Öcalan expresses his opinios and suggestions to all the people."

 

MA / Müjdat Can