Raziye Öztürk, one of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) co-founder Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers from Asrin Law Office travelled to Strasbourg, France, to hold various meetings, including talks with parliamentarians from the Council of Europe (CoE), as well as with various groups in the council such as the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).
During the day, Öztürk held a meeting with the CPT to discuss the harsh penalties imposed against Öcalan in 2024 and the ongoing bans on visits from his lawyers, as well as other unlawful practices such as isolation, and violations of his rights in the prison on İmralı island, where Öcalan has been held since 1999.
People’s Democracry and Equality (DEM) Party Representative to the Council of Europe Fayik Yağızay was also present at the meeting. A dossier detailing the violations in İmralı within the last year was also handed over to the CPT officials during the meeting.
During the meeting, it was stated that despite the CPT’s recommendations and suggestions, Turkey was not complying, as disciplinary measures and a ban on lawyer visits against Öcalan are continuing. Öztürk demanded that the CPT to take action against these unlawful practices.
Calls to the CPT have been a key focus point of the campaign for Öcalan’s freedom, with more than 60 prominent thinkers, campaigners, legal professionals, politicians and trade unionists signing an open letter calling on the CPT to visit İmralı in May 2024.
