Over 1500 lawyers form 35 countries sends Abdullah Öcalan letter to Ministry

  • actual
  • 14:18 16 September 2024
  • |
img

NEWS CENTER - More than 1,500 lawyers and legal organizations from 35 countries sent a letter to the Ministry of Justice to go to İmralı and ensure Abdullah Öcalan's access to lawyers. 

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.
 

View More Articles

02/10/2024
14:53 Seriously ill prisoner Abdulkadir Kuday dies
14:35 Spread all over the world in one year
13:56 Isolation after conspiracy: Violations every second in İmralı
01/10/2024
15:10 10 arrests in child rape investigation: Impunity corrupts
14:05 Prisoner in action against violations: Families must call the prison
14:04 Lawyers applies to meeting with Abdullah Öcalan
13:35 Violations increase in Serhat prisons, isolation deepens
10:24 Resistance of Kurds against conspiracy
09:49 Organizers of 'Freedom for Öcalan' campaign call for action
30/09/2024
13:03 Stand of Abdullah Öcalan against conspiracy
12:53 Anti-war declaration by DEM Party Women's Assembly
12:49 Xwebûn published: 'Make a great Fuss'
26/09/2024
19:06 Penalty demand for protesting femicide
14:24 Prisoner journalist Ezîzî hospitalized
13:14 Lawyers applies to meeting with Abdullah Öcalan
12:47 Journalist Yurtsever: Turkey has moved from occupation to annexation
12:46 Detention period of Kurdish instructors extends
12:27 Construction begins on dam that destroy history
25/09/2024
11:52 Bafil Talabani: Ruling party sold Kurdistan land to Kurdish enemies
11:42 Conflict in rural Şax
10:34 Prisoner artists on hunger strike weigh less than 38 kilos
10:03 Military operation in Şax
09:48 Absolute isolation in İmralı its 43rd month: 600 applications inconclusive
23/09/2024
15:04 Call to international organizations in 'Speak up for freedom' protest
13:11 Call for Abdullah Öcalan's 'right to hope': Start violation procedure
13:09 'We will continue to fight against impunity policies'
12:26 Interior Ministry assigns inspectors for Zarokistan
11:17 Iran blocks treatment imprisoned journalist Ezîzî
11:17 'Nolle prosequi' for suspicious death in prison
10:52 Xwebûn: 'People’s organization is a must'
19/09/2024
15:55 Feray Şahin murdered by police commemorated
15:43 Emine Senyaşar hospitalized in her prevented protest
15:38 Protest of Emine Şenyaşar in Parliament prevented
15:29 Karabuk Prison report: 17 prisoners not released
12:34 Treatment prevented to prisoner who refuses strip search
11:55 Lawyers applies to meeting with Abdullah Öcalan
11:53 Warplanes bombed villages in Qendil
11:51 Not examined due to she does not know Turkish
11:40 Prisoners and families in isolation
10:08 Decision of 'rejection of venue' in 'Return to Life' Operation
18/09/2024
17:25 Military operations in rural Licê
17:24 Application for violations in Kırşehir Prison
17:11 'Freedom' protest in front of prison: End the isolation
13:05 Iranian regime detains 5 Kurdish citizens
13:02 Journalist Serdeştî: KDP building road to Turkey
17/09/2024
09:33 Lawyer meets with ill prisoner Kuday: We may get bad news any moment
09:32 'Right to hope' of Öcalan on Committee of Ministers' agenda
16/09/2024
15:19 Secret Women’s Committee: Need for organization and cooperation
15:18 Xwebûn published: 'Always jin, jiyan, azadî'
14:18 Over 1500 lawyers form 35 countries sends Abdullah Öcalan letter to Ministry