Başaran: Mr. Öcalan has a lot to say, the isolation must be lifted

Ayşe Acar Başaran, Spokesperson for the HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) Women’s Assembly, held a press conference to assess current events.

Speaking at the party’s Istanbul Provincial Organization building, Başaran stated the following:

“Dear friends, as we approach the 23rd anniversary of the February 15 conspiracy, we see that the choice is becoming more profound, and its impact on our lives is growing by the day. Despite the fact that there have been occasional meetings with lawyers, relatives, and delegations with Mr. Öcalan for the past 23 years, he remains in complete isolation. This month’s isolation has surpassed these 23 years. On March 25, 2021, Mr. Öcalan and his family made a brief phone call. Since March 25, there has been no contact with Mr. Öcalan. We made a legal analysis of this and indicated that there is an execution regime is in place which is specific to İmralı and it is progressively becoming a widespread method and practice in jails.

Of course, simply recognizing Mr. Öcalan’s isolation through law and legislation is insufficient. The worsening of this isolation, particularly with the new AKP-MHP partnership, reflects the attitude towards the Kurdish issue. As the isolation deepens, we see that the politics of conflict and war become more entrenched, society becomes more polarized, society becomes impoverished by allocating the entire budget to war, and violence and murders against women become more common due to the organization of militancy with sexism. In its 23rd year, we urged that the Imrali isolation regime be lifted as soon as possible. In the last few months, the government has attempted to plot certain manipulations through Mr. Öcalan. We stress that Mr. Öcalan has far too many things to say to society and far too many ideas to share. The isolation should be lifted as quickly as possible, and negotiations should take place.

‘PRISONS ARE TURNED INTO DEATH CAMPS’

We have repeatedly stated that prisons are manifestations of this isolation. As our comrade Gültan Kışanak mentioned in her statement, the pandemic has made the already harsh conditions in jails that have existed since March 2019 even more challenging. She stated that it revealed how the isolation has worsened. They have not been permitted to meet with any other convicts outside of their cells or wards since March 2019. With the most recent execution changes, the prisoners are confronted with customs such as book bans and, in particular, the banning of the opposition press from accessing the prison, as well as the conditional release of the prisoners being canceled even after their sentences are completed. Even more serious is the situation of sick prisoners in jails. In Turkey’s prisons, there are 1600 ill prisoners, 600 of them are critically ill. Just in 2021, 59 sick prisoners died in jails, 7 of them shortly after their release was postponed, all within the force of the government’s authority. The government consistently fails to take action for the case of sick prisoners. The government must stop converting jails into death camps.

‘REACTION TO ATK’

When discussing ill prisoners, it is vital to bring up the case of Aysel Tuğluk, who is currently on the public agenda. Tuğluk is a friend of ours who has dedicated her entire life to the women’s struggle and the Kurdish people’s freedom struggle. While all she wants is an equal and free life in this country, she is suffering from dementia, which is worsening by the day following the attack on her mother’s funeral. Although Kocaeli Hospital gave a medical report, ATK (Forensic Medicine Institute) didn’t issue a medical release report. She was returned to prison alongside other ill prisoners. I’d also like to address the doctors at ATK; stop making judgments based on government policies and inclinations. The belief that keeping a dementia sufferer in prison will improve her sickness is widely held within the confines of medical ethics and followed by the entire society. Act in accordance with your ethical values and conscience. Do not act with the mind of the government.”