The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has subtly shifted the responsibility of addressing allegations of torture and inhumane treatment in Turkish prisons, including İmralı Island, to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
Speaking to Medya News’ Erem Kansoy after announcing the CPT’s annual report in Brussels on Friday, CPT Chair Dr. Alan Mitchell highlighted the limitations of the CPT’s mandate, explaining that while the organisation can identify and report on conditions that may potentially constitute torture or inhumane treatment, it does not have the judicial authority to make a definitive ruling on these matters.
🔴As of today, Abdullah Öcalan has been incommunicado in İmralı prison for 38 months.CPT's Dr. Alan Mitchell has urged Turkey to permit publication of prison condition reports to enhance transparency and protect human rights#FreeOcalan4PoliticalSolutionhttps://t.co/IvM488LiWE pic.twitter.com/ldmr3CXia6
— MedyaNews (@medyanews_) April 26, 2024
Dr. Mitchell highlighted Turkey’s refusal to approve the publication of reports concerning prison conditions, particularly on İmralı Island, where Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan has now been in solitary confinement for over three years, 38 months, without outside contact. Mitchell emphasised the need for Turkey’s consent to enhance report transparency.
“Reports can only be published with the consent of the member country involved. We continue our consultations with Turkey to disclose the reports we currently cannot,” Mitchell explained.
The Asrın Law Office, representing Öcalan, has recently criticised the Council of Europe’s anti-torture committee for not inspecting İmralı during their last visit to Turkey from 13 to 22 February 2024. Labelling the omission “unacceptable”, Öcalan’s lawyers argued it undermines the CPT’s duty to prevent torture and inhuman treatment.
“Long-term solitary confinement is very unhealthy, causing severe physical and mental damage. Communication with prisoners, families, and legal representatives is crucial to preventing mistreatment,” Mitchell stated.
Hugh Chetwynd, CPT’s Executive Secretary, also noted the sensitive nature of dialogues with Turkish authorities, underscoring ongoing efforts to foster transparency despite political and procedural challenges.
Öcalan has been imprisoned in İmralı since 1999, spending his sentence in solitary confinement. In the last three years, he has faced complete incommunicado, unable to meet with his lawyers or family, or communicate through phone calls or letters. Alongside Öcalan, other inmates at İmrali—Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş—have also faced similar conditions, enduring long periods of isolation and severe restrictions.
The persistence of severe isolation and solitary confinement conditions and the lack of any news from İmralı Prison since a short phone call in March 2021 has prompted appeals from legal representatives, human rights organisations and international bodies urging the anti-torture committee to take action.
The CPT has been called upon to conduct thorough inspections, report on their findings, and demand that Turkey address these severe human rights violations, especially in light of the prolonged denial of legal representation and family contact.
