ISTANBUL - Stating that international institutions also had an impact on no sound from PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan for 17 months, Attorney Raziye Öztürk said: "Öcalan's philosophy cannot be isolated and this philosophy has come to life in Northern and Eastern Syria."

 

PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held in Imrali Type F High Security Closed Prison since February 15, 1999, when he was brought to Turkey with an international conspiracy, has not been heard from since March 25, 2021. Öcalan was able to meet with his family and attorney at regular intervals until July 27, 2011. However, attorneys' visits were not allowed for various reasons afterwards. Following the hunger strike launched by thousands of prisoners in prisons on November 8, 2018, Öcalan held 5 meetings with his attorneys, the first on May 2, on May 22, June 12, June 18 and August 7, 2019. After the last meeting, the attorney's visits were completely blocked. Öcalan has not been heard from since the interrupted phone call on March 25, 2021.

 

Raziye Öztürk, one of Öcalan's attorneys, made assessments about the aggravated isolation and its effects on his client.

 

THERE IS NO SOUND OF ABDULLAH ÖCALAN FOR 17 MONTHS

 

Reminding that Öcalan had a phone conversation with his last brother, Mehmet Öcalan, Öztürk said that the meeting took place after certain allegations were made about Öcalan's life. Öztürk said: “Mr. Öcalan demanded the implementation of the law and condemned this situation; however, after Mr. Öcalan's condemnations, the phone was cut off immediately. This situation has created serious concerns for us. There are applications we have made to the execution judge, to local authorities. We've had calls about it. Despite this, there has been no sound of Mr. Öcalan for 17 months.”

 

ATTITUDE OF INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

 

Saying that the isolation and no sound of Abdullah Öcalan are related to the "conditions of fascism", Öztürk said: "Mr. Öcalan's political identity and the role and influence he will play in the solution of the Kurdish Question are great. Therefore, a government that does not want a democratic, constitutional and peaceful solution will further strengthen nationalism and fascism in this context. The state of not being able to receive news from Abdullah Öcalan is not only related to the government, but also the effect of the international mechanisms that control İmralı.

 

'ISOLATION IS TORTURE'

 

Stating that Imrali is an isolation system and isolation is torture, Öztürk said: "İmralı is an illegal area. There is no law or administration in İmralı. It is completely governed by politics. The administration in Turkey is trying to keep this system. The bans and disciplinary penalties given to Mr. Öcalan also express this unlawfulness. As attorneys, we do not have access to any files. This situation is a part of the isolation system and it is a system that is in no way compatible with the law.”

 

THE REFLECTION OF ISOLATION ON SOCIETY

 

Stating that the isolation also started in İmralı and then it was reflected to all segments of the society, especially the prisons, Öztürk said: "While Mr. Öcalan met attorneys, a staff and the documents were confiscated. In Turkish prisons, the prisoners were allowed to meet with their families, letters and newspapers were being held. This unlawfulness still continues. This situation has affected the whole society. Even posts that can be considered within the scope of freedom of expression led to serious arrests. With these bans, the whole country was intimidated. In this way, a serious climate of fear was created."

 

ÖCALAN'S PARADIGM

 

Stating that they wanted to isolate Mr. Öcalan's philosophy and ideology, but that did not happen, Öztürk said: "Mr. Öcalan developed the paradigm of democratic modernity against capitalist modernity. The freedom of women and a new democratic modernity were built in Rojava with his paradigm. Women led the way in the establishment of this new life. They became the pioneers of the revolution by fighting against an organisation like ISIS. All this happened thanks to Öcalan's paradigm. Öcalan's philosophy was kept alive in Rojava and put into practice. This paradigm is also a women's paradigm. It is a paradigm based on equality and freedom.”

 

MA / Esra Solin Dal