The Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) issued a written statement on the 12th anniversary of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decision of March 18, 2014, regarding Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.
Recalling the ruling and its requirements, ÖHD said the Court had found that the failure to review aggravated life imprisonment under any circumstances, and the denial of any possibility or hope of release to prisoners, violated the prohibition of ill-treatment and torture and was incompatible with human dignity.
The statement said the following:
“Despite 12 years having passed, this ruling has not been implemented, and the state of violation has continued not only in respect of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan but also thousands of prisoners sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment. This situation has resulted in the continuation of an execution regime in Turkey that is contrary to ECHR jurisprudence and universal legal principles.
Since the aggravated life imprisonment regime came into force, the sentence has clearly moved away from a humane character, depriving prisoners of the ‘right to hope.’ What is required, however, is the immediate and full implementation of ECHR rulings and the restructuring of the execution system on the basis of human dignity. Nevertheless, no legal regulation has been introduced during this period; on the contrary, the isolation regime—particularly in Imrali—has at times been further intensified and consolidated. This approach has not only undermined the rule of law but has also regressed the democratic social order. The denial of the right to hope is not merely an individual rights violation; it is also a structural issue affecting society as a whole. The persistent refusal to regulate this right has caused lasting damage to the country’s legal system and has severely undermined the sense of justice.
On the other hand, the failure to implement the right to hope is clearly contrary to the spirit of the Peace and Democratic Society Process initiated by Mr. Öcalan. One of the first steps necessary for building peace and advancing democratization is the implementation of ECHR rulings and the guarantee of the right to hope.
In conclusion, in accordance with the binding nature of ECHR decisions, the necessary legal regulations must be made immediately within the execution regime to include the right to hope; ongoing violations must end, and the execution system must be restructured with a holistic and humane perspective. This is a requirement of the rule of law, human dignity, and the democratic social order.
In this context, we call on the legislative body, the executive body, and all relevant institutions to fulfill international obligations and to act with an understanding that places the right to hope at the center of the execution regime and is grounded in human dignity. We emphasize that the steps to be taken in this direction should not be limited to technical regulations, but should reflect a reform will that is humane, inclusive, sustainable, and in line with the spirit of the process. We invite legal professionals, civil society, and the public to unite around a common demand for justice.”
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