The regime in İmralı Island Prison, where the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan is held, extends beyond isolation and also encompasses frequent intimidation and threats, revealed Sabri Ok, a member of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) Executive Council.
Ok revealed further details about the conditions in İmralı prison during a Friday interview with Sterk TV, seizing the opportunity to discuss the recent arrest of veteran Turkish journalist Merdan Yanardağ. Yanardağ had exposed the isolation endured by Öcalan in İmralı prison during a television broadcast, criticising the Turkish government for its actions. However, he was promptly detained and subsequently arrested. Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party and a key ally of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, defended Yanardağ’s arrest, asserting that anyone claiming the existence of isolation in İmralı is committing a crime.
In light of Yanardağ’s arrest, Ok disclosed distressing details concerning death threats and attempted poisonings that transpired in İmralı in 2007. According to Ok, these threats were conveyed through anonymous letters, sent by both the Turkish state and the İmralı prison administration, even during periods when Öcalan had no means of communication with the outside world.
The letters stated, “We will administer a poison that will lead to your demise. Even the insects that feed on your corpse will be poisoned and perish,” revealed Ok. He underscored the distressing nature of these threats, highlighting the daily psychological and physical torment endured by Öcalan.
Despite the prohibition on Öcalan’s legal right to receive letters, the authorities permit the circulation of these threatening letters without restriction. Ok expressed grave concern, stating, “This is a deliberate attempt to manipulate Öcalan’s psychological, mental, and physical well-being, obstructing his ability to fulfil his role.”
Ok emphasised that such actions are indicative of rogue and gang-like states and urged that the issue of isolation and its far-reaching implications should be placed at the forefront of the agendas for both Kurdistan and Turkey.
Öcalan has been subjected to 28 months of absolute isolation imposed by the Turkish government, raising concerns about his well-being. The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) concluded its report in March following a visit to İmralı Prison in September 2022. Despite the visit, public concerns remain high as Öcalan’s lawyers noted the lack of information provided by CPT officials regarding his conditions.
The most recent information concerning the anonymous threatening letters sent to Öcalan, as mentioned by Sabri Ok, dates back to 2016. At that time, Çetin Arkaş, who had been detained alongside Öcalan in İmralı but was later transferred to another prison, wrote an article revealing that Öcalan had indeed received these unsigned letters during his imprisonment in İmralı.
