Association of Lawyers for Freedom co-chair Ayşe Acinikli spoke to Ferhat Çelik from the Mesopotamia Agency on the latests developments regarding claims about the health of imprisoned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan. Acinikli also called for visits with Öcalan to be allowed.
Acinikli said, “There are hunger strikes in prisons now and prisoners’ demands are quite legitimate. They are simply asking for the implementation of Turkey’s own laws”.
Arguing that Öcalan’s lawyers should be able to meet their client during weekday working hours, Acinikli said “prisoners also have a right to make phone calls and send letters. However, none of them are allowed in İmralı”.
Acinikli said difficult situations might arise if face-to-face visits are not allowed, adding, “Our current demand is to allow visits to ease public concerns”.