One of the methods by which the fascist Turkish state works to systematically suppress the rights and freedoms of prisoners is through its system of isolation and solitary confinement.
The Turkish state has for 25 years imposed systematic isolation and solitary confinement on the Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Ocalan in Imrali prison where he has been held since February 1999. Since 25th March 2021, no news has been received regarding Mr. Ocalan or the other three prisoners who were transferred to the same island in 2009. Prisoners on Imrali are being completely deprived of their rights to meeting with lawyers and family, to make phone calls, and to send letters or faxes. This practice, known as the Imrali system of isolation, is a continuation of the fascist Turkish state’s policy of colonialism and destruction directed at the Kurdish people.
PKK and PAJK prisoners held captive in the fascist palace regime’s prisons have announced that from the 27th November until the present they have been in an alternating hunger strike demanding the end of solitary confinement that is imposed on Abdullah Ocalan and his physical freedom, and that their hunger strike will continue until 15th February 2024.
The Turkish state, as the Imrali system of isolation continues, is increasingly imposing similar conditions on other political prisoners. Along with F-type solitary confinement prisons, with the construction in recent years of S and Y-type prisons this system is being expanded. Prisoners kept in such conditions are confined to their cells for 23 hours and afforded only one hour to take air a day.
Isolation and solitary confinement is a method of torture and a crime against humanity. The Turkish state, through the imposition of isolation and the severing of political prisoners’ connections with the outside world, aims to isolate them, break their wills, and push them towards despair and rejection of their ideals. However, they have and will continue to be ever unsuccessful in this. For 25 years, not Mr. Ocalan’s nor the will of any other prisoners held in isolation has been broken.
Whether it be isolation and solitary confinement, or the policies directed at sick prisoners, both are the fascist Turkish state’s policy of extermination of the political prisoners it holds hostage. Whilst within prisons, the fascist Turkish state aims to exterminate prisoners through isolation, physical and psychological torture, and violations of their basic rights, outside of prisons, through bans, attacks, arrests and detentions, the state is trying to expand the system of isolation, hold the entire populace in confinement, and by threatening the revolutionaries, women, youth and LGBTQ+ community struggling against the fascist dictatorship make them give up on their struggle.
The struggle against isolation and for the immediate release of sick prisoners is an important part of the struggle against fascism and colonialism. We will continue in our struggle to always support political prisoners, demand an immediate end to the Imrali system of isolation and for the release of sick prisoners.
No more isolation and solitary confinement, release sick prisoners now!
Freedom for political prisoners!
Prisoners Voice Platform (TSP)