No news from İmralı for 31 months: Laws should be implemented

  • actual
  • 11:17 24 October 2023
  • |
img

AMED - Condemning the lack of news from İmralı for 31 months, representatives of non-governmental organizations demanded compliance with the laws against the isolation they described as "inhumane".

The aggravated isolation system put into effect on İmralı Island has been maintained with absolute lack of communication for 31 months. There has been no news from PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and other prisoners Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş, who are held in severe isolation conditions in İmralı Type F High Security Prison, for more than 31 months. In the response given on October 13 to the application made by the lawyers of Asrın Law Office to the Bursa Execution Judgeship on October 10 to provide family opinions, it was stated that a new disciplinary penalty was given. Despite the application of the lawyers, the judgeship did not give the reason for the new disciplinary penalty on the grounds that it was "reported in the press".
 
Vahap Günay, co-chair of the Association for Assistance with Prisoners' Families (TUAY-DER) and Hüseyin Barış, a member of the 78's Association, evaluated the isolation.
 
'ISOLATION IS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY'
 
Stating that the penalties given under the name of "discipline" in İmralı were arbitrary, TUAY-DER Co-Chairperson Vahap Günay described this situation as unlawful, Günay said that isolation is a crime against humanity and should not be applied to any living creature. We have always shouted that we do not find the isolation right, and we still shout today. They are trying to intimidate people with the isolation policy.`` 
 
'IT IS NEITHER HUMAN OR CONSCIOUS'
 
Hüseyin Barış, a member of Amed(Diyarbakır) 78's Association, underlined that the isolation is against universal principles of human rights. Barış said: "This isolation is neither moral, humane nor conscientious. Turkey should implement its laws. How can a person stand inside a 6-7 square meter wall for 25 years? Lawyers and his family should meet so that these gangrenous problems can be solved. If Öcalan speaks, a different situation will develop, as in 2013-2015. Everyone supported that period, even the states of the world supported it. You should not hinder the will of the society with this grudge and hatred. This will be protected. Nobody wants anything else from you. Just follow your own laws and regulations. Other than that, no one wants anything. This arbitrary practice harms people. Enmity is declared between societies. There is a great danger here."