ANKARA - The Constitutional Court has rejected the application of Hamili Yıldırım, a prisoner in İmralı Prison, on the prevention of his right to telephone calls. 

 

The Constituitonal Court ruled on the Individual Application of Hamili Yıldırım, a prisoner in İmralı F Type High Security Closed Prison, on the grounds that his right to telephone calls prevented. 

 

On 7 September 2020, İmralı Penal Institution restricted Hamili Yıldırım's right to make phone calls for 6 months. The restriction was based on the claim that Yıldırım may establish organizational communication with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan. The execution office notified Yıldırım about the decision on 8 September 2020. Yıldırım applied to Bursa 1st Execution Judgeship on 9 December 2020 and requested to use his right to make phone calls. The court rejected the request, stating that the application was not filed in due time. 

 

'RESTRICTION OF TELEPHONE RIGHT IS DISPROPORTIONATE'

 

Yıldırım appealed against the decision. Bursa 1st Assize Court ruled on 21 December 2020 that the decision of the judgeship was "in accordance with the procedure" and Yıldırım's request should be rejected. Yıldırım made an individual application to the Constitutional Court on 21 January 2021, on the grounds that "his freedom of communication was violated and the restriction of his right to telephone was disproportionate under pandemic conditions". 

 

The Constitutional Court ruled "inadmissibility" on the grounds that the application procedures had not been duly exhausted. 

 

ABSOLUTE ISOLATION

 

Yıldırım is being held in İmralı Prison together with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and prisoners Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysi Aktaş. Yıldırım was taken to İmralı on 29 March 2015. Until today, he has not been allowed a single meeting with his lawyers. For 8 years, he was only allowd 2 family visits. The las face-to-face meeting with him was the family meeting on 12 August 2019. On 27 April 2020 and 25 March 2021, he was able to make only 2 phone calls. he has not been heard from since 25 Marc 2021.

 

MA / Fırat Can Arslan