ISTANBUL, TURKEY
Asrın Law Firm made a written statement regarding the meeting between the Peoples Leader Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysi Aktaş and their families in the Imrali Type-F High Security Closed Prison.
Asrın Law Firm’s statement is as follows:
“Our clients in İmralı Prison, Mr Abdullah Öcalan, Mr Ömer Hayri Konar and Mr Veysi Aktaş had a meeting with their families on 03.03.2019. The meeting took place as a result of the sensitivity and reactions that emerged in the democratic public, especially the Kurdish people, with the reflection of the information that a fire broke out on the island of Imralı.
Families have confirmed that a fire occurred after the visit to Imrali Island. They have observed that our clients look good overall and are not affected by the fire.
However, the practice of the isolation in İmralı prison constantly drives families and the public into an anxious and worrying situation. Because meetings with families and lawyer, which are among the most basic rights of prisoners in prisons, have never been legally implemented on the island of Imrali, and have been considered as a tool for blackmail and threats.
As seen today, from 2011 until today, only hunger strikes, fire, etc. have made it possible to have a meeting. It was actualised as a result of extraordinary situations. This situation has no legal or morally acceptable aspect.
We have learned that Mr Öcalan is moral, strong and healthy. In his meeting with brother Mr Mehmet Ocalan, he emphasised the solution to the political crisis in Turkey and the Middle East once again. He stated that he maintained his stance during his meetings in 2019. As the political developments experienced in the last period have shown the rightness of Mr Öcalan, it has become clear that the isolation applied in İmralı in this atmosphere is toward the future of the people.
We call for immediate discontinuation of the lawless practice of the isolation imposed on the individual and at the same time the will of the peoples. We present the developments in this manner to the public. ”
