Coordination of Democratic Organizations has issued a statement regarding the posts about Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan on social media; “We demand a visit to be arranged for his family and lawyers to see Mr. Öcalan without spending even a moment,” said the coordination. Zekiye İlbasan, an activist of the TJA, reminded that prisoners have launched a hunger strike demanding the end of the isolation imposed upon Abdullah Öcalan, and she said, “The Ministry of Justice should issue a statement about Abdullah Öcalan to relieve people.”

İstanbul – Coordination of Democratic Organizations, consist of many organizations such as the Anatolian Association for Aid and Solidarity with Families who lost their Relatives (ANYAKAY-DER), held a press conference at Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Istanbul Headquarters regarding the posts about Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan on social media. The press conference was attended by members of the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK), Free Women’s Movement (TJA), Marmara Association for Solidarity with Prisoner and Convict Families (MATUHAYDER), Democratic Alevi Associations (DAD), Democratic Regions Party (DBP), and Istanbul Kurdish Institute.

“The aggravated isolation continues”

The Anatolian Association for Aid and Solidarity with Families who lost their Relatives (ANYAKAY-DER) Chairperson Hüsnü Taş read the press statement on behalf of the Coordination of Democratic Organization. Stating that the visit to Imralı should be immediately arranged, Hüsnü Taş reminded that the last visit of lawyers with Abdullah Öcalan was arranged on August 7, 2019. “His family visited him on March 4, 2020 after a fire broke out on the Imralı Island. His family talked to him on phone on April 17, 2020. The current situation in İmralı shows that the absolute aggravated isolation continues.”

“Claims cause concerns”

Noting that as of March 14, 2021, many claims regarding the life of Abdullah Öcalan have been shared by social media accounts, Taş said, “The claims shared on social media causes concerns because no one has visited Abdullah Öcalan for nearly a year although all legal conditions are available and the absolute aggravated isolation upon him continues. The absolute isolation imposed upon Abdullah Öcalan held in Imrali prison is unlawful and affects the whole society.”

Call on CPT and UN

Emphasizing that the isolation policy carried out in İmralı prison is against all national and international laws, Taş said, “The imposed isolation has turned into torture. Under these conditions, we concern about the life of Abdullah Öcalan due to the posts shared on social media about his life. We call on all political parties, NGOs, particularly the CPT and the UN, to be sensitive about the issue. As democratic organizations, we demand a visit to be arranged for his family and lawyers to see Mr. Öcalan without spending even a moment.”

Elif Bulut: This is a crime against humanity

After Hüsnü Taş, HDP Istanbul Provincial Chairperson Elif Bulut made a speech and said that not allowing Abdullah Öcalan’s family members and lawyers to visit him is a crime against humanity. “Current laws should be valid for Mr. Öcalan,” Elif Bulut said, “Visits should be allowed.”

Zekiye İlbasan: Issue a statement immediately

Zekiye İlbasan, an activist of the TJA, reminded that prisoners have launched a hunger strike demanding the end of the isolation imposed upon Abdullah Öcalan, and she said, “The Ministry of Justice should issue a statement about Abdullah Öcalan to relieve people.”