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International Initiative
Freedom for Ocalan – Peace in Kurdistan
P.O. Box 100511, D-50445 Koeln
E-Mail: info@freedom-for-ocalan.com
Url: www.freedom-for-ocalan.com
Cologne, 20 March 2002
INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE BRIEFINGS:
Ocalan's detention conditions
Yesterday, 19 March 2, the Council of Europe in Strasbourg published
a report submitted by its „Committee for the Prevention of
Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.”
This committee is one of the Council of Europe's human rights instruments
monitoring the observance of the European Convention. Its delegation
visited Turkey and Turkish prisons from 2 to 14 September 2001.
The report published yesterday contains the committee’s preliminary
observations.
The following passage comprizes what is said about Abdullah Ocalan
and the conditions of his detention:
Imrali Closed Prison
The delegation reviewed the treatment of Abdullah Ocalan and wishes
to make a number of specific remarks in this regard. At the outset,
it should be stated that his material conditions of detention remain
on the whole very good. However, the delegation proposes that the
radio provided to him offer a wider range of wavebands and, in particular,
short wave. Further, it would be highly desirable to allow him to
acquire a television set. These measures would help to counter the
potentially negative effects of the exceptional circumstances of
his custody. Like all other prisoners in Turkey, Abdullah Ocalan
should also be allowed access to the telephone on a regular basis;
given the remote location of Imrali Prison, it would be appropriate
for him to have telephone access not only to his relatives but also
to his lawyer. In the light of information gathered during the visit,
the delegation must also stress that he should be allowed to correspond
in confidence with the European Court of Human Rights and with his
lawyer.
Further, the delegation would like to reiterate the proposal already
made by the CPT that he be allowed to circulate freely between his
cell and the room adjoining it during part of the day. The information
gathered during the visit confirmed that this would in no way jeopardise
security.
The delegation feels that the time has now come, after two years,
to review the present medical monitoring procedures. In its view,
the current twice-daily stereotyped checks performed by a constantly
changing series of doctors should be replaced by regular, in the
first instance fortnightly, medical consultations with the same
doctor. This would allow the development and continuity of a meaningful
doctor/patient relationship. This doctor should, inter alia, co-ordinate
the intervention of specialists. Of course, the delegation assumes
that there will always be on the island someone able to provide
emergency care.
The delegation also wishes to underline that the present, exceptional,
custodial arrangements for Abdullah Ocalan cannot be allowed to
continue indefinitely. In line with the CPT's standard recommendations,
he should at the earliest possible opportunity be integrated into
a setting where contact with other prisoners and a wider range of
activities are possible.
The report is available full-length at http://www.cpt.coe.int/en/reports/inf2002-03en.htm
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