More than 1,500 international lawyers and legal organizations have sent a letter to the Ministry of Justice to demand an end to the isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and to ensure his freedom. The letter, signed by 1,524 lawyers from at least 35 countries around the world, was presented at a press conference in Brussels. In the meeting organized by the Association for Democracy and International Law (MAF-DAD), the Brussels Bar Association, the Brussels Bar Institute for Human Rights, the European Lawyers' Association for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH) and the European Union of Democratic Lawyers (AED) at the Brussels Press Club, it was stated that this initiative was taken to ensure the right to meet Abdullah Öcalan. 

 

The meeting also alerted the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and underlined that the situation in İmralı has been described by lawyers worldwide as a special and discriminatory form of isolation. 

 

INTERNATIONAL LETTER

 

In a letter sent to the Turkish Ministry of Justice, it was emphasized that Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş, who are being held in İmralı Type F High Security Prison, were unlawfully prevented from meeting with their lawyers. The letter read out during the press conference included details about the prevention of lawyer and family meetings.  It was stated in the letter that the isolation has caused reactions of international lawyers. In the letter, it was reminded that on January 22, 2024, 1,330 lawyers registered to 35 different bar associations applied to Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and demanded an end to the ban on lawyer visits in İmralı Prison and to have lawyer meetings with Abdullah Öcalan, Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysi Aktaş. 

 

REQUEST TO VISIT IMRALI 

 

The letter stated that the ban on lawyer visits in İmralı is in clear violation of the Nelson Mandela Rules, CPT recommendations and the Turkish Penal Execution Code No. 5275 and also violates the rights and privileges of lawyers. 

 

On April 30, 2024, the Ministry responded to DEM Party MPs stating that there was no obstacle to lawyers' meetings with Öcalan and demanded that they show that this information was correct by allowing the meeting. 

 

In the letter, lawyers and legal institutions also conveyed their joint demand to visit the prisoners in İmralı. 

 

Speaking at the meeting at the Press Club, AED President Hélène Debaty stated that they are very interested in the situation in İmralı and Debaty stated that with more than 1,500 signatures they have once again asked about the situation in İmralı. 

 

GEISWEID: STATES ARE OBLIGED TO ENSURE RIGHTS

 

Speaking next, MAF-DAD Co-Chair Heike Geisweid gave information about the unlawfulness in İmralı and the obstacles to visits. Geisweid stated that the CPT's recommendations and the Penal Execution Law No. 5275 are clearly violated and that states are obliged to ensure that prisoners and convicts can exercise their rights. 

 

OSCHINSKY: VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

 

Yves Oschinsky from the Brussels Bar Association and the Bar Institute for Human Rights reminded the international law and conventions guaranteeing the right to defense and pointed out that Turkey is violating international law. Oschinsky underlined the importance of international support for lawyers and continued support for the Kurdish people. 

 

SCHMIDT: EU MUST EXERT PRESSURE

 

ELDH Co-Secretary General Thomas Schmidt said that international organizations agree that Turkey is ignoring the rights of prisoners. Schmidt stated that the European Union should put pressure on Turkey to allow lawyers to visit İmralı and that the recommendations of the CPT are being ignored by Turkey. Schmidt pointed out that especially western governments and the European Union should react to ensure the possibility of meetings.