ISTANBUL - Stating that the Imrali isolation is an obstacle in front of the democratization of the country, President of the Peace Foundation Hakan Tahmaz said: "As long as the isolation continues, there is no chance for peace to develop."

 

PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is being held in İmralı Type F High Security Prison, has not been heard from for more than 27 months. While the reactions against the absolute isolation in Imrali continue, the names that bring the issue to the agenda are being targeted. Criticizing the isolation in Imrali, TELE1 Editor-in-Chief Merdan Yanardağ said: “If the execution laws were valid, he should be released Abdullah Öcalan; He is an extremely intelligent person who reads a lot of books, reads and analyzes politics correctly." After his statement, he was taken into custody yesterday.

 

Making evaluations on the subject, the President of the Peace Foundation Hakan Tahmaz said that the isolation in Imrali was unlawful and that Yanardağ's detention was an "intimidation operation" against the opposition media.

 

THE DETENTION OF YANARDAĞ

 

Said that Yanardag's detention for criticizing the isolation was an "intimidation" operation against the opposition media, Tahmaz said: “The detention of an editor-in-chief because of these words is an official declaration of the suspension of freedom of expression. There can be no other reason for this."

 

'POWERS OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD INVESTIGATE THE ISOLATION'

 

Underlining that the unlawfulness in Imrali is directly in effect by the government, and therefore, investigation and investigation of the isolation should be carried out by forces other than the government, Tahmaz said: “I think it depends on the change in political power. It is unacceptable that an editor-in-chief is prosecuted because of his words. There is a policy of isolation since 1999. There is something unlawful, against international law. In order for this process to be investigated and clarified, Turkey needs to enter the peace process. This is not something that can happen with this government."

 

' ABDULLAH ÖCALAN IS AN EFFECTIVE ACTOR'

 

Describing the isolation as an "Obstacle" on Turkey's feet, Tahmaz said: "Isolation serves as a major obstacle for the solution of problems in Turkey and the democratization of the country. We see that Öcalan has made important contributions to the solution processes. Öcalan is an influential actor. When you increase isolation, you are not taking the path of peace, but insisting on policies of violence, conflict and security. As long as the isolation continues, the possibilities for peace have no chance to develop.”