News Center- Bar associations and human rights organizations in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan sent a letter to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) on January 12, 2024, stating that rights of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş, who have been held in İmralı Prison, to see their families and lawyers are violated.

‘We wrote that we expected them to contribute to the solution’

The undersigned organizations and associations held a press conference at IHD headquarters. "We drew attention to the absolute isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan in the letter," said IHD Co-chair Hüseyin Küçükbalaban at the press conference.

“Since the situation of incommunicado in Imrali prison has been deteriorating and there is no change in stuation, we wrote in the letter that we expected the CPT to fulfill its responsibilities according to the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and to contribute to the solution. Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş have not been allowed to see their lawyers and family members for about three years.

“As the undersigned human rights and law organizations, we would like to announce to the public that we call on the CPT to take an urgent action to solve this unacceptable problem according to international legal norms and human rights values and principles and that we will follow this process.”

 Signatories

Human Rights Organization (IHD)

Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD)

Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD)

Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV/HRFT)

Society and Legal Research Foundation (TOHAV)

Civil Society in the Penal System Association (CISST)

Muş Bar Association

Van Bar Association

Batman Bar Association

Diyarbakır Bar Association

Hakkari Bar Association

Mardin Bar Association

Urfa Bar Association

Şırnak Bar Association