Lawyer Cengiz Yürekli has accused the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) of losing its credibility and failing in its mission to prevent torture in the case of Abdullah Öcalan, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader who is currently imprisoned by Turkey in Imrali Island Prison.
“The CPT has ceased to be a trustworthy institution and has lost its mission to prevent torture,” lawyer Cengiz Yürekli stated. This comment comes amid concerns over the isolation of Öcalan, the PKK leader held in İmralı prison since his capture in 1999, from whom there has been no news since 25 March 2021.
Öcalan has been subjected to intensified isolation over the past three years, with his last known contact being a phone call with his brother, Mehmet Öcalan. Since then, all legal attempts to re-establish communication have been unsuccessful. Despite this, the CPT, the principal international entity responsible for monitoring such situations, has faced criticism for neglecting its duties, notably failing to visit Öcalan during its most recent inspection in Turkey.
Yürekli highlighted the lack of transparency and the refusal of the Turkish authorities to acknowledge basic human rights and legal access for Öcalan. “We have not received a single piece of news about Öcalan or our other clients since 25 March 2021. Not to mention, we are utterly in the dark about what’s happening on Imrali Island,” Yürekli said.
The isolation system at İmralı has been described as uniquely oppressive, with Yürekli suggesting it represents a new level of lawlessness, supported by international complicity. Despite international and European legal interventions, including actions by the European Court of Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Committee, Turkish authorities have ignored calls to end the inhumane treatment. “Imrali’s isolation is not merely a domestic policy but involves international tacit approval, making it a part of a broader NATO conflict,” Yürekli warned.
The secrecy surrounding conditions at Imrali prison starkly contrasts with transparency norms in other penitentiaries. Yürekli condemned the absence of information on Öcalan’s wellbeing and the lack of response to the appeals made by over a thousand lawyers for restoring legal and human rights. “Everything about Imrali has been shrouded in secrecy for 25 years. We know nothing about the living conditions, security provisions, or even the health status of those detained there,” Yürekli revealed.
Despite the severe isolation, Yürekli emphasised the resilience and resistance of Öcalan, whose philosophy, particularly regarding women’s liberation, has found global resonance. “Despite the intense pressure and isolation, Öcalan’s paradigm is being discussed worldwide. The slogan ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ (Woman, Life, Freedom) is a testament to this philosophy’s impact beyond the walls of İmralı,” he added.
Yürekli also reflected on the significance of Newroz celebrations as expressions of Kurdish aspirations for equality and freedom, often echoing calls for Öcalan’s release. “Newroz has become a platform for the Kurdish people to voice their political and social demands, consistently calling for Öcalan’s freedom,” he stated, highlighting the ongoing struggle for Kurdish rights and autonomy.
