WAN - Kurdish journalists emphasized that the isolation imposed on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan affects society as a whole. Journalist Keser Buldan said, "We cannot talk about freedom without standing against isolation."

 

PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and prisoners Hamili Yıldırım, Veysi Aktaş and Ömer Hayri Konar are in absolute isolation in Imrali Type F High Security Prison. The state of absolute lack of news of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and his friends continues for 38th month. Upon the meeting application made by Öcalan's lawyers, it was revealed that the prisoners in Imrali were banned from visiting for another 3 months, citing "disciplinary punishment". Reactions to the isolation of Öcalan continue. Demanding that the isolation be abolished, prisoners boycott the courts and refrain from phone calls and family visits. "Speak to freedom" protests were launched in front of prisons in Amed, Êlih (Batman-Southeast Turkey/ Kurdistan), Istanbul, Izmir, Mersin and Adana. Journalists from 4 parts of Kurdistan evaluated the isolation policies.

 

'ATTACKS ON THE PRESS ARE CONNECTED WITH ISOLATION'

 

Saying that the attacks against the free press are connected to the ongoing isolation, Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) Co-chair Selman Çiçek underlined that the isolation must be abolished immediately. Çiçek said: “The deeper the isolation imposed on Öcalan, the more the war is fueled. When we look at the situation of the country in the 'Solution Process' that developed between 2013 and 2015 and the situation of the country now, we clearly see the difference. The isolation is directly connected to attacks on the free press. Attacking the press is a clear indication that there is serious fascism in the country. After the 'Solution Process' was completed by the AKP in 2015, the press was targeted and subjected to serious attacks. To date, serious raids have been carried out, especially against the free press. Journalists' homes and workplaces were raided. Free Press workers' materials were seized and they were arrested. Many of our friends are still prisoners. Isolation affects all social dynamics. We demand once again that the isolation be abolished."

 

'THE VOICE MUST BE MADE AGAINST ISOLATION'

 

Stating that the purpose of the isolation is the liquidation of the Kurds and their struggle, Rojava journalist Serkeft Hisên reminded that actions and activities were carried out in many parts of the world to end the isolation. Hisên said: "Isolation is a policy put into effect to liquidate the struggle of the Kurds. The Kurds are aware of this policy and are taking actions all over the world for this purpose. Meeting applications of Öcalan's family and lawyers are rejected by the authorities. Hundreds of actions and activities are being carried out in the Rojava, Bakur, Başur and Rojhılat parts of Kurdistan and the world to end the isolation of Mr. Öcalan. The actions taken are large and wide-ranging. The Kurds and their supporters need to raise more voices regarding the isolation. Today, in interviews conducted by journalists around the world, people say, 'Öcalan's freedom is our freedom.' New actions and events will take place in the coming period. We call on everyone who sees and embraces Mr. Öcalan's paradigm as hope to join these protests."

 

'THE GOVERNMENT SURVIVES BY WAR'

 

Stating that Öcalan has put up a great resistance against torture and isolation on the island prison for 25 years, Keser Buldan, a journalist in Başur, said: "There has been no news from Leader of the Kurds Mr. Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held in Imrali Prison by the Turkish state for 25 years. Mr. Öcalan, who is held under severe isolation and torture conditions in Imrali, became the key to the solution of the people and the Kurdish issue by dismantling the Imrali system with his struggle and resistance for 25 years. Mr. Abdullah Öcalan stated that the Imrali system of isolation, torture and genocide is a part of the international conspiracy and said the following; 'The conditions I live in are harder than Type F Prison. There is no provision in any prison regulation regarding these practices. I am being treated arbitrarily and as a special prisoner.' The system of isolation and torture applied to Mr. Öcalan is deepening every day. Why this isolation has been deepened so much is also understood from the political situation in Turkey today. The real reason for the isolation of Mr. Öcalan is to separate the people of Kurdistan from his leadership. The fascist AKP-MHP government survives by imposing absolute isolation in Imrali and waging an all-out war against the Kurds. We cannot talk about democracy, freedom, justice and their struggle in Turkey unless everyone stands against the isolation in Imrali."

 

'ISOLATION MUST BE ABOLISHED IMMEDIATELY'

 

Stating that the paradigm developed by Öcalan is a new hope for Middle Eastern rights, journalist Kakshar Oremar from Rojhilat emphasized that the isolation should be lifted immediately for a real peace to be achieved.

 

Oremar continued his words as follows: “Öcalan has been improving himself since his childhood until today, becoming the hope of the oppressed, exploited and ignored societies. Today, Öcalan has become a world thinker, apart from being the leader of the PKK. Mr. Öcalan is a great historian who reveals not only the leadership of a people, but also a hidden history and shows it to the world. Mr. Öcalan's analysis has exposed the dirty policies carried out on societies. For this reason, everyone who believes in Mr. Öcalan must  fight to break this isolation and for his physical freedom. No one must accept this isolation. We, as journalists, will do our best. We demand that the authorities immediately abolish the isolation.”