The isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı High Security Closed Prison continues. The protests and activities initiated in many centres to ensure the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan contine for the seconf year in a row. Calls for the implementation of the "right to hope" decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on Abdullah Öcalan also continue. 

 

İshak Demirel, co-chair of the Istanbul branch of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), made evaluations on the "right to hope".

 

Pointing out that a meeting took place in İmralı but the isolation still continues, Demirel underlined that Abdullah Öcalan is one of the actors of the solution of the Kurdish issue. Demiral emphasised that Abdullah Öcalan must meet with his lawyers during this process. 

 

Mentioning that the solution of the Kurdish issue is very important for Turkey, Demirel reminded that Abdullah Öcalan also drew attention to this point. "The state currently sees Mr Abdullah Öcalan as the interlocutor. A new 'process' must be carried out in a safer environment than the process in 2015. The regulation on the right to hope is important for this. The 'right to hope' can be seen as the first step of sincerity here. While there is a judgement of the ECtHR and international conventions, it is an arrangement that Turkey can make with an easy domestic law regulation, with a few legal texts to be passed in the Parliament. Because I think that the process will be healthier and more effective under conditions where the physical conditions of Mr Abdullah Öcalan are provided," he said. 

 

Stating that there are exemplary decisions on the "right to hope" in the world, Demirel reminded the decision of the ECtHR in 2014 and said that Turkey is already responsible for fulfilling this decision. Demirel said: "Mr Öcalan's 25 years have expired. He was given the opportunity to be released in the context of the 'right to hope'. But unfortunately, Turkey has not brought any regulation since 2014."

 

'THE PROCESS MUST BE BETWEEN EQUALS'

 

Demirel continued as follows: "We have experiences from the first solution process. We think that if a solution process or a negotiation process is to be carried out, it should be between equals. If it has to be between equals and the interlocutor is Mr Abdullah Öcalan, who the state sees as the interlocutor, it would not be very healthy to carry out the process in prison. There needs to be a dialogue between equals. This is exactly where the concept of the right to hope comes to the fore. There are already international decisions regarding Mr Öcalan. The way for his release has also been paved legally. After 25 years, if he can be released, it would be healthier to carry out the solution process."

 

MA / Ömer İbrahimoğlu