The University of Geneva’s Uni Mail campus is hosting the “Political Prisoners in the World and Turkey” conference, bringing together experts from various fields today, 24 February.
Organised by the Kurdish Student Association at the University of Geneva (ADEK), the conference focuses on the situation of political detainees, with particular emphasis on the isolation imposed on Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı Prison for the past 25 years, with total incommunicado conditions for the last 3 years.
Helin Sağlam from ADEK opened the conference, highlighting the critical need to discuss the conditions of political detainees in order to uphold justice and legal standards. The conference agenda includes discussions on the purpose of prisons, the construction of detention facilities for political opponents, and the status of political prisoners worldwide.
Elisabeth Decrey Warner, a Swiss human rights advocate and one of the panel moderators, pointed out the lack of awareness about Öcalan’s predicament compared to other political figures, noting, “Usually Mandela’s experiences are talked about. We rarely hear about Abdullah Öcalan. This is a fact.” Warner stressed the importance of applying pressure not only on the Turkish government but also on European countries economically involved with Turkey, to secure Öcalan’s release.
Jean-Pierre Restellini, a former member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and a forensic expert, shared insights from his visits to Turkish prisons. He noted the extensive violence encountered by political detainees, stating, “More than 80% of political prisoners worldwide are subjected to the violence of the official authority,” a situation reflected in Turkey’s detention facilities. Restellini highlighted the widespread discrimination against political prisoners.
Jan Fermon, a lawyer from the Brussels Bar, addressed the complex definition of political prisoners, emphasising the resilience of political detainees under harsh conditions, particularly in Turkish F-type prisons. Fermon argued that many Kurdish political detainees could be considered prisoners of war, given the severe circumstances they endure.
The conference also features sessions on the history and current state of Turkish prisons, the treatment of political prisoners, and the specific challenges faced by Kurdish individuals under Turkey’s legal system. Notable contributions come from Eren Keskin, co-chair of the Human Rights Association (İHD), who pointed out the distinct legal treatment applied to Kurds and other dissidents in Turkey, especially the extreme isolation experienced in Imrali.
