There has been no news from PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and other prisoners Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş, who are held in İmralı Type F High Security Prison, for 34 months. While lawyers and family visits are blocked on the grounds of "disciplinary penalties", the isolation policy implemented against Abdullah Öcalan spreads to all areas of society. The fact that family and the lawyers of Abdullah Öcalan are not allowed to meet with him also causes concerns in the society.

 

The isolation continued and the "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, solution to the Kurdish issue" campaign was launched on October 10 in 74 centers around the world. As part of the campaign, thousands of prisoners started a rotating hunger strike on November 27. Families of the prisoners also participated in the campaign with "Justice Watch" actions in Wan, Amed, Mersin, Cîzre and Istanbul. Against the lack of news in İmralı, intellectuals, writers, directors, actors, artists and musicians made a declaration titled "Let's Be a Voice for Peace" in Istanbul and Amed on January 7, expressing demands for peace against war, ending the isolation and finding a solution to the Kurdish issue.

 

People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Wan Deputy Sinan Çiftyürek talked about the 34-month absolute isolation in İmralı and the global campaign demanding the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan.

 

Deputy Sinan Çiftyürek

 

STATUS DEMAND OF THE KURDS

 

Çiftyürek stated that the Kurds and Kurdistan were denied in the 21st century and that Kurds now want status. Stating that the state and the current government are playing ostrich against the Kurds, Çiftyürek said: “If there is no Kurdish and Kurdistan issue in this country, who has the state been fighting with for a hundred years? The Kurdish issue has been carried out with a policy of denial until today. If there is no Kurdish issue, why are thousands of political Kurd prisoners in prison? Why do Mothers for Peace always want peace? All the people of the world know that this issue is not about 'terrorism', but about freedom”

 

DEMOCRATIC SOLUTION

 

Reminding AKP President Tayyip Erdoğan's words, “The Kurdish issue is my issue", Çiftyürek said: "The authorized organs and leaders of the Kurds and state officials sat at the table from time to time to solve the Kurdish issue through peaceful methods. So, there is a Kurdish issue. This issue cannot be solved by denying it. It needs to be resolved in an open and transparent manner. The Kurds want status today and it is their most natural and fundamental right to demand this. For the solution of the Kurdish issue, the state must first talk to Leader of the Kurds Abdullah Öcalan and the other actors and ensure that the issue is resolved through democratic means”

 

'THE STATE IS AFRAID OF ÖCALAN'

 

Çiftyürek emphasized that Abdullah Öcalan's family and lawyer visits must be ensured and said: “Today, millions of people believe in Öcalan's thoughts. These millions of people are curious about the situation of their leaders. But today the state is afraid of Öcalan. This is why they are trying to cut off communication. Another fear of the state is the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue”

 

DEMANDS MUST BE FULFILLED'

 

Çiftyürek stated that protests and events were held worldwide against the Imrali isolation and demanding the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, and underlined that these demands from all over the world, especially the prisoners on hunger strike, must be met.

 

'OBSTACLE TO THE KURDISH ISSUE'

 

Stating that the Imrali isolation poses a serious obstacle to the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue, Çiftyürek called for the state and the government to approach the Kurdish issue seriously. "Öcalan must speak," said Çiftyürek, adding: "If Öcalan's family and lawyers could visit, he would express his thoughts on many issues today. Why does this government speak on behalf of Öcalan? Abolish the isolation you imposed on Öcalan, let Öcalan speak. Why are the state and the government is isolating Öcalan today, because they are afraid of Öcalan? Why are they afraid? Because Öcalan reads and analyzes Middle East and world politics well. The state must now give up their policy of playing the ostrich against Öcalan and the Kurds and abolish the isolation policy”