Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan spoke to his family in a phone call on 24 March. The incident was announced by the Asrın Law Bureau, who revealed that Öcalan said “I want my lawyers to come here and meet me in person” to his brother Mehmet Öcalan on the phone.
HDP Şanlırfa (Riha) deputy Ömer Öcalan commented on the phone call and said the state should take it more seriously. “Now we are even more concerned,” he said. “We cannot get any information about the life and health of Mr Öcalan. It was only a four or five minute meeting, then it ended and the family came out. They stayed there for 10 minutes but there was no response. It was as if it was an illegal meeting.”
He criticised the Turkish authorities: “This attitude is unacceptable. Look, the family was called and told that they will meet him. A phone call is made for four or five minutes. They call this an interview. Those responsible will be held accountable. They do not follow the laws. It was like an illegal meeting. Mr Öcalan expresses this clearly in his statements.”
The HDP deputy urged authorities to present a proper explanation to the public. “If they have a plan, it is a dirty plan, and the state must step back from it.”
