ISTANBUL - In a statement on 15 February, Asrin Law Office said, "The real way to make the will for solution, democracy and peace vital will be to end the İmralı system and ensure the physical freedom of Öcalan."
Asrin Law Office issued a written statement on the anniversary of 15 February, the day PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan was handed over to Turkey by an international conspiracy.
The statement reminded that it was the anniversary of the conspiracy and stated that the conspiracy not only affected the Kurdish people, but also the equal and free coexistence of the peoples of Turkey and the Middle East.
The statement reads: "Today, Mr. Abdullah Öcalan was subjected to the 26th anniversary of the international conspiracy. Mr. Abdullah Öcalan, who was kidnapped and handed over to Turkey by an international conspiracy, which has been a blow not only to the Kurdish people but also to the equal and free coexistence of the peoples of Turkey and the Middle East. The Imrali isolation system in which Öcalan has been held for 26 years has undoubtedly been a continuation of this conspiracy.
The İmralı isolation system is a torture regime in which national and international law is not applied, all legal, constitutional and contractual rights are suspended, inhuman multi-layered treatment continues, and inter-state political interests determine its management. This extraordinary regime, which is directly related to the Kurdish issue and which is in operation on İmralı Island, has been influential and decisive in the entire governance of the country, from Turkey's approach to human rights, democratisation, economy and foreign policy.
PRIMARY CONDITION: IMRALI ISOLATION MUST BE LIFTED
The uninterrupted and de facto prohibitions and restrictions imposed in İmralı have been extended to all other prisons over time, and the life sentence imposed on Mr Öcalan has been applied to thousands of other prisoners. The insistence on the insolvency of the Kurdish issue and the continuation of the Imrali isolation regime has increased the economic and political crises imposed on the peoples, deepened the politics of war and trusteeship, and prevented social freedom and social peace. Therefore, the elimination of the Imrali isolation as the primary condition for a democratic solution to the Kurdish question will improve the country's record on rights, law and democracy, and guarantee the free and just coexistence of all peoples living in our geography, especially Kurds and Turks.
Despite the heavy torture regime of 26 years, Mr Öcalan, as we are witnessing these days, has maintained his will in favour of a democratic, political and legal solution to the Kurdish issue and has the potential to frustrate the conspiracy and isolation policy, which is a result of international power balances. Mr Öcalan has pursued a universal peace policy against the international conspiracy and the international isolation policy.
ÖCALAN'S PHYSICAL FREEDOM MUST BE ENSURED
After 4 years of incommunicado, in the first meeting held on 23 October 2024, he stated, 'Isolation continues. If the conditions arise, I have the theoretical and practical power to pull this process from the grounds of conflict and violence to the political and legal grounds." In the meeting dated 28 December 2024, he revealed his power and will, and in the meeting dated 28 December 2024, he said, '...All these efforts will carry the country to the level it deserves and will also be a very valuable guide for a democratic transformation. This is the era of peace, democracy and brotherhood for Turkey and the region.' and reiterated his call for democracy and peace. The real way to make this will for solution, democracy and peace vital is to end the İmralı system and ensure the physical freedom of Mr Öcalan."