The 7th issue of the "Isolation Bulletin" published every 15 days by the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) has been published.

 

In the bulletin published with the aim of raising public awareness about the isolation in Imrali Type F High Security Prison, it was reminded that the state of not being able to hear from PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and other prisoners Hamili Yıldırım, Veysi Aktaş and Ömer Hayri Konar, who are held under heavy isolation, has entered its 38th month.

 

The bulletin emphasized that isolation has been in place in Imrali for 24 years, 2 months and 18 days, that there has been no family visit for 4 years, 1 month and 30 days, that there has been no lawyer visit for 4 years, 8 months and 26 days, and that there has been "absolute lack of communication" for 2 years, 13 months and 7 days.

 

'MINISTRY OF JUSTICE DENIES THE ISOLATION'

 

The response of the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses of the Ministry of Justice to the application made by the People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) on December 7, 2023 was included. In the information titled "Ministry of Justice denied the isolation", the following was stated: "The Directorate denied the absolute isolation in Imrali Island Prison and claimed that the prisoners 'equally benefit from all rights granted by laws and regulations'. Asrın Law Office, on the other hand, called on the Ministry of Justice to explain ‘when was the last meeting held?’"

 

PREVENTING RELEASE OF AKTAŞ

 

The bulletin also drew attention to the situation of Veysi Aktaş, who is held in Imrali and whose release was postponed for one year. In the information titled "Veysi Release of Aktaş Is Prevented", it was noted that while Veysi Aktaş, who is held on Imrali Island Prison, should have been released on April 28, 2024, according to the period previously prepared by the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, his release was postponed for 1 year by the decision of the Administration and Observation Board. Emphasizing that the decision is against the law, the bulletin stated the following: "This decision, which means the usurpation of Mr. Aktaş's freedom, was not given to his lawyers."

 

CPT STATEMENTS

 

The bulletin also included the ongoing protests by political prisoners in prisons demanding "freedom for PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue." The second page of the bulletin also included the ongoing "boycott" action in prisons and the statements of the Chair of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), Alan Mitchel, that the committee visited Imrali in 2022 and prepared a report, but the report could only be published with the approval of Turkey.

 

Juan Prosper, a Paris Bar Association lawyer and one of the participants of the conference held in the European Parliament on April 11, included his evaluations regarding the legal aspect of the Imrali isolation and the CPT's approaches to the isolation in question.