VAN - İHD Van Branch President Mehmet Karataş stated that the isolation imposed on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan is paralleled in the world and said that the CPT is not on the side of the solution.
The hunger strike launched in prisons against the aggravated isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and the increasing violations of rights against the prisoners is on its 225th day today. Mehmet Karataş, President of the Human Rights Association (İHD) Van Branch, said that isolation is an inhumane policy.
UNPARALLELED
Stating that there is not a single example of law applied privately to a person in the world except Turkey, Karataş said Öcalan is under aggravated isolation for the last 22 years which is unparalleled in the world. Karataş said: "Öcalan has a unique position in the Middle East, Kurdistan and Turkey. However, the isolation against Öcalan is getting worse day by day. This practice, which has no place in the Penitentiary Institution and Penal Execution Laws, is a practice unique to Öcalan. This isolation imposed on Öcalan has an effect on not only Öcalan but the political prisoners and the society. This is a purely political practice that is unparalleled in the world."
'CPT DOESN'T WANT TO BE ON THE SIDE OF THE SOLUTION'
Stating that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), to which Turkey is also a party, did not take any concrete action against the isolation imposed on Öcalan, Karataş stated that the CPT does not want to be a party to the solution. Noting that the role of the CPT is important and that the isolation practice will be lifted if it fulfills this role, Karataş said: "I think CPT has a goal not to provide a solution. And I think CPT is doing this on purpose."
SOLIDARITY WITH THE HUNGER STRIKERS IS ESSENTIAL
Referring to the hunger strikes launched to end the isolation imposed on Öcalan in prisons, Karataş stated that the isolation has been implemented for a very long time and has become a state policy. Emphasizing that there is a great struggle in prisons, Karataş said that the rights demanded by the prisoners during the hunger strike actions are legal and legitimate. Karataş said that as the Human's Rights Association they have been following the hunger strikes closely, called on the Ministry of Justice to meet the demand while he underlined that solidarity with the hunger strikers is essential.