Asrın Law Office applies to Constitutional Court for Öcalan and other prisoners in Imrali

Asrın Law Office has decided to apply to the Constitutional Court (AYM) as no news has been received about Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan for 9 months. The lawyers also applied for the other prisoners in Imrali, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş.

According to Mezopotamya Agency (MA), the lawyers made an application requesting an injunction on 24 December, drawing attention to the phone call that took place on 25 March which was the last contact with Abdullah Öcalan, and said: “Despite nine months have passed after that phone call, it was not possible to obtain information about the situation of our client. During this period, we were not allowed to visit our clients in person. In addition, no contact whatsoever could be established with our clients, either by phone or letter. For this reason, an application was made to the Court of Execution. The Execution Judge said that there was a disciplinary penalty affecting the family visits, and that there was a 6-month restriction on visits for lawyers. This unlawful decision was appealed and a copy of these files was requested, but these requests were also rejected due to security reasons.”

‘The lives of our clients are at risk’

The lawyers listed their demands in the application as follows:

“The lives of the applicants, who have not been heard from since 25 March 2021, are at potential risk. In addition to their advanced age and health, the absolute isolation they have been subjected to for a long time threatens their mental and physical integrity. The absence of control mechanisms and effective remedies increases the risk situation. We request an injunction decision in accordance with Rule 73, so that the damage caused by the violation of article 17 of the Constitution (prohibition of torture) is brought to an end so that our clients can meet with their families and lawyers.”