Imrali Type F High Security Prison is one of the places where isolation is most intense in Turkey. There has been no news from PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and prisoners Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş, who are held in Imrali, for 39 months. Applications for meetings made by families and lawyers are either left unanswered or rejected every 3 or 6 months on the grounds of "disciplinary penalties". Various actions and events and applications are being made all over the world regarding the abolishing of the absolute isolation in Imrali, ensuring the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and the solution of the Kurdish issue.

 

According to Mehmet Salih Coşkun, Chair of the Wan Branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD), who has taken various initiatives against isolation in recent years, the biggest obstacle to solving the Kurdish issue, which is one of the biggest problems of the country, is isolation.

 

(İHD Wan Branch President Mehmet Salih Coşkun)

 

'ISOLATION SPREAD TO THE SOCIETY'

 

Stating that the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan is the source of the problems experienced in the country, Coşkun pointed out that the prisoners have been boycotting the courts since April 4 and have not been seen by their lawyers and families. Coşkun said: "During our meetings during this process, we found out that many punishments were given to detainees, including disciplinary investigations, solitary confinement, and social events. For this reason, the isolation in Imrali has spread to all prisons and society today. The unresolved Kurdish issue also causes political, social and economic problems in the country. In order to solve these problems, the isolation of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan must be ended." 

 

'EVERY PRISONER HAS THE RIGHT TO HOPE'

 

Coşkun pointed out that every prisoner has "the right to hope (giving the prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment or aggravated life imprisonment the opportunity to be released)." Coşkun said: "The right to hope is a right that stems from the human being. Even if a person is guilty, they cannot be isolated from society or held in prison for life. However, some prisoners are not released by the decision of the Administrative and Observation Board, even though they have completed their 30-year sentences. This situation is the deprivation of the prisoner's freedom and a blow to the 'right to hope'. As lawyers, our expectation is that the requirements of the ECHR's decisions (the 'violation' decision regarding the practices in Imrali in 2014) will be fulfilled. States make and enforce contracts but do not fulfill them. For this reason, countries need to implement an effective policy to implement ECHR decisions in Turkey."

 

'ISOLATION MUST END TO SOLVE THE ISSUE'

 

Recalling the process carried out with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan between 2013 and 2015, Coşkun said: "With Erdoğan not recognizing the 'Dolmabahçe Memorandum', the state's view of Öcalan, the PKK and the Kurds has evolved to a different dimension. There are still problems and pressures continues. The Kobanê Case decisions and the deepening of the isolation of Öcalan are a policy of the state. Communication with Mr. Öcalan is important for the solution of the Kurdish issue. In order to solve the problems, the deepening isolation in the person of Öcalan must end. It is unlawful not to allow Öcalan to meet with his family and lawyers. Legally, family and lawyer opinions must be made. There is no legal obstacle to this. Failure to do this is a failure to recognize the law."