Dr. Jean-Pierre Restellini, a former member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), has asserted that Turkey is employing every means to prevent information about imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan from reaching the outside world. Speaking to Medya Haber TV’s Serkan Demirel on Friday, he emphasised the unacceptable nature of Öcalan’s isolation and called for either a new CPT visit or a public statement.
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Öcalan, held in İmralı High Security F-Type Prison, has been incommunicado for 40 months, with his lawyers and family denied access due to “disciplinary” penalties. This absolute isolation has sparked numerous protests worldwide.
Dr. Restellini, who has visited İmralı three times, reiterated the CPT’s standards that reject total isolation. “Abdullah Öcalan’s prolonged lack of contact with his family and lawyers is problematic,” he stated. He stressed that Turkey must respond to the CPT’s observations to enable the publication of its reports. “This is a clever strategy to avoid accountability,” he explained.
Restellini pointed to a precedent where the CPT issued a public statement regarding Azerbaijan’s detention conditions, suggesting a similar approach for Turkey. “While the circumstances differ, the fundamental idea remains the same,” he said.
Highlighting the severe health risks of prolonged isolation, Restellini shared his professional experiences, stating, “Complete isolation can lead to psychiatric breakdowns.” He underscored the CPT’s stance that detainees must have access to family and legal counsel, deeming Öcalan’s isolation as unacceptable.
Restellini urged the CPT to consider a new visit to İmralı to assess the current situation directly. “Given the elapsed time since the last report, a new visit to gather updated information would be the best course of action,” he concluded.
