Imrali isolation: The existence of the ECtHR and CPT became controversial

  • actual
  • 11:36 2 October 2023
  • |
img

ISTANBUL - Stating that the law is not enforced in İmralı, ÖHD Co-Chairperson Serhat Çakmak said: "The ECtHR and CPT have made their existence controversial with their stance on this point."

The international conspiracy against PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, involving many countries under the coordination of the United States of America (USA), was implemented by many states, especially European countries, ignoring international law. Abdullah Öcalan, who left the Middle East and opened up to the world to establish a democratic solution to the Kurdish question against the plans for destruction and liquidation, was crucified when his requests for political asylum were not accepted in the countries he visited. The PKK Leader, who was brought to Turkey where he was wanted with the death penalty after a 130-day European process, was given the death penalty in the trial that started on May 31, 1999 at Ankara No. 2 State Security Court and ended with the last hearing on June 29, 1999. Abdullah Öcalan has been held in isolation conditions in İmralı Type F High Security Prison for 25 years with this sentence converted to aggravated life imprisonment.
 
'RIGHT TO HOPE' APPLICATION
 
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), to which Abdullah Öcalan's lawyers applied, ruled on violation of the "aggravated life imprisonment" in 2014. Following this decision of the ECtHR, the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), Society and Law Research Foundation (TOHAV), Human Rights Association (İHD) and Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TİHV) together with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, detained Hayati Kaytan, Emin Gurban and Civan Boltan, applied to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 26 July 2021 to put the violation decisions of the ECtHR on its urgent agenda.
 
RESPONSE FROM TURKEY
 
Upon the application drawing attention to the need to ensure the 'Right to Hope' for Abdullah Öcalan and other prisoners, Turkey responded to the Committee on September 7, 2021. Claiming that there has been no violation in Imrali since 2009, Turkey ignored the findings and suggestions in the application regarding the "right to hope" and "amendment in the law on aggravated life sentence", which brought up the possibility of release of Abdullah Öcalan and other prisoners.
 
'LAW IS NOT IMPLEMENTED IN TÜRKİYE'
 
Referring to the existing unlawfulness by drawing to the "violation" decision of the ECtHR, Çakmak said: "The ECtHR determined that there were some violations, especially regarding Mr. Öcalan's right to a fair trial. Despite this, Türkiye did not take any steps. Mr. Öcalan has not been subject to law since the day he was held in İmralı. İmralı Prison became an experimental place for the system. The isolation that started in İmralı was later applied to other prisons and society. And we have become a society where 'the outside becomes inside'. Law is not implemented in Turkiye."
 
'ECtHR HAS BECOME CONTROVERSIAL'
 
Stating that Turkey still does not implement the ECtHR decisions, Çakmak said: "This situation makes the existence of the ECtHR controversial. The European Council may subject Turkey to sanctions. The failure to implement a decision for such a long time makes the existence of the ECtHR questionable. Regarding this decision, last year, as ÖHD, we applied to the Committee of Ministers to implement this decision and put it on the agenda again. But no positive results were obtained."
 
WHAT DID CPT EXAMINE IN IMRALI?
 
Drawing attention that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) did not disclose its report on its visit to İmralı Island between September 20-29, 2022, Çakmak said: "This attitude of the CPT makes its existence controversial. Since CPT is an institution that works in the field of human rights, if there is a violation of rights somewhere, it should detect it and disclose it to the public. What did the CPT examine? What did it detect? What is the person's health condition? What are the prison conditions like? How are social rights used? Can he exercise his other fundamental rights? There is no explanation for this. This seriously brings into question the purpose of existence of the CPT and its claim to be an institution in the field of human rights.”
 
MA / Esra Solin Dal

View More Articles

10/09/2024
12:36 Prisoner's release extended after refusing strip search
12:22 Street reacts to Narin Guran murder
12:07 More than 40,000 cases of sexual offenses against children in 2023
11:59 '1 out of every 3 students goes to school hungry'
09/09/2024
16:58 Demand freedom of Öcalan on “Speak Up for Freedom” protests
16:39 Women prisoners in Evin Prison refuses gives evidence
16:15 Narin investigation: Uncle gave the body
16:04 Ömer Öcalan: We will protect our language and our leader
15:42 Police threat protesting workers: Your children will not find work
15:25 Emine Şenyaşar seeks 'justice' in Parliament for 19 days
15:04 Prosecutor's Office report on Narin Güran's autopsy
14:56 Women react to massacres
12:47 Xwebûn publishes with headline “Genocide Agreement”
12:46 Narin Guran buried
07/09/2024
15:12 8-year-old Narin Güran has not been found for 18 days
10:52 Agrija clip on 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadi' released
10:51 UN asks Turkey to defend children held at border crossing
10:31 22 people murdered in 8 months in Turkey’s attacks
10:26 Seriously ill prisoner Ataş taken to solitary confinement
10:15 Keene: Turkey puts resources on war against Kurdish People
06/09/2024
17:08 Samsun and Bafra prison violation report: Violence, treatment and release barriers
16:55 Families applies to go İmralı
16:54 DFG and MKG celebrate Free Press Day: We will continue the honorable struggle
16:30 ECHR, Committee of Ministers and CPT respond to isolation letter
16:30 4 people kidnapped in Afrin
16:29 Searching for grave of her executed son for 6 years
05/09/2024
12:46 Search for Narin Güran continues
12:41 Tevgera Azadi reacts to Turkish drone attack
11:51 Journalist Güleş acquitted
11:43 Release of Yaklav postponed 5 times: When you are Kurd and political, you are not 'well-behaved'
11:30 Makbule Özer talks about prison: They are afraid of us
04/09/2024
13:55 Prisoners in Espiye Prison call for sensitivity against violations
11:32 Showing way to 'solution' has become crime!
11:22 What has happened in Narin Güran investigation?
11:05 No news from her 2 sons detained by ISIS for 10 years
10:53 8 questions on 'right to hope' decision of Abdullah Öcalan
10:30 Release of 30-year cancer prisoner blocks by 'remorse'
03/09/2024
13:05 His body given to family after 3 years
12:10 24 attacks by Turkey on Federated Kurdistan in one night
11:51 6 children stranded border placed dormitories
11:42 New application from lawyers of Abdullah Öcalan
11:23 Hewlêr and Silêmaniyê countryside bombed
10:00 Ill-treatment to ill prisoner Kuday during treatment
09:54 Psychological violence and threats in Manavgat Prison
09:53 9 years since ban killed 21 people
09:49 Prisoner journalist: Protests will continue until isolation end
02/09/2024
18:50 Narin Güran's uncle arrests
17:22 'Speak up for freedom' demonstration in Izmir and Mersin: Isolation, insistence on war
17:14 6 children stranded border crossing after father arrests
16:43 Arrest request for Narin Güran's uncle