İSTANBUL - Stating that the state committed a crime in İmralı by not following Mandela's rules, lawyer Ercan Kanar said that Öcalan should be released.

 

With the signature of 770 lawyers, the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) made a call on May 25 for the removal of the isolation imposed on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan. While the call was supported by millions of people from all walks of life, the gvoernment continues to remain silent. One of the signatories, attorney Ercan Kanar said: "Öcalan must be transferred to a prison closer to his home town and family and the isolation imposed on him must be removed until the sentence is reversed. Virtually, Öcalan must be released."

 

'RACIST APPROACH ON EXECUTION'

 

Recalling that the United Nations' minimum standard rules were declared for prisoners in 1955 and then revised in 2005, Kanar said, “Article 1 of the Mandela rules states that there should be no discrimination in execution. The following principle is also important in the doctrine of execution, once the sentence is finalized, no matter what the crime is, the person's connection with the crime is severed. Therefore, the law of execution should be applied equally to everyone. Religion, language, race and class should not be discriminated against. Imrali isolation violates this basic rule." Underlining that the most important of the Mandela rules is the prohibition of continued solitary confinement Kanar said: “In fact, solitary confinement for more than 15 days is prohibited. Another important article is that the prison where the convict will stay must be close to the city where their family resides. Considering these rules, it is clear that the approach against Öcalan is within the scope of enemy law and it is racist."

 

THEY ARE COMMITTING A CRIME

 

Reminding that MHP has been ruling the country since the election was cancelled in 2015, Kanar said: "The isolation imposed on Öcalan has spreaded all over the prisons since his capture. Even the leftist communities remained silent against the isolation. It was an experiment that soon turned into Type F prisons. It had dire consequences in terms of rights and freedoms. Isolating prisoners have become wide-spread since then. The Turkish state must stop violating the law on execution and the Mandela rules. This is a crime."

 

CALL TO THE MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY

 

Expressing that the main opposition parties also remained silent and ignored the lawlessness and isolation in Imrali, Kanar said, “We need to create wider social pressures to end the isolation in Imrali. Society needs to raise its voice at this point. Civil society institutions must do their part. We have a long road ahead of us."