Güldem Doğan from the Free Women’s Movement (TJA), Suzan Akipa from the Asrın Law Office, and DEM Party Istanbul MP Özgül Saki talked to ANF about why isolation practices exist and why they must be lifted.

TJA activist Güldem Doğan stressed that Turkish society first needs to understand the concept of isolation. She emphasized that it should not simply be understood as cutting off a person’s contact with the outside world, saying: "Today, there isn’t a single person in Turkey who can genuinely claim, ‘I am free, my life is not under isolation.’ I say this unequivocally, because the state manipulates society and conducts perception operations using all resources available to normalize its isolation practices. This manipulation is done through the education system, laws, regulations, and the media. As a result, society struggles to fully comprehend isolation and falls short in both solidarity and questioning these practices."

Güldem Doğan underlined that isolation is deeply ingrained in policies that seek to numb and pacify society, although the severity of this isolation is often not fully grasped. She explained how women are isolated from society, politics, and the economy. Many are unaware that ignoring the demands and rights of women, who make up half of the population, is a consequence of isolation policies. “They do not wish to acknowledge that the exploitation of women’s labor, both at home and in the workplace, stems from this isolation. Women imprisoned simply for engaging in political and women’s rights work are isolated from the political realm, yet society fails to see this. For this reason, understanding and opposing isolation is the primary responsibility of all humanity. Isolation, bolstered by special warfare tactics, patriarchal attitudes, and state policies, has evolved into a societal issue, manifesting in every part of our lives.”

As November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) is approaching, Doğan pointed out that the state’s restriction on protests in Taksim Square is an attempt to isolate them from that symbolic space and its memory. She believes that isolation affects all aspects of life for women and that they are committed to breaking this isolation with all their strength. According to her, achieving a free, equal, and just life necessitates the end of isolation. "We have confidence in our struggle as women, and we believe we will defeat the mentality that seeks to normalize isolation."

"A consequence of persistent war policies"

Özgül Saki, Istanbul MP for the Democratic Party (DEM), highlighted that isolation also contributes to the rise in women’s poverty and femicides. She argued that the insistence on isolation policies reflects an adherence to colonialist war policies. Saki said: "Isolation should never be inflicted on anyone, regardless of the justification. Even within the criminal justice system, punishments that violate human dignity are considered criminal. We know that the absolute isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan in Imrali serves as a hostile policy, punishing an entire community by targeting its leader. The removal of isolation is essential for resolving the Kurdish issue through fair, equal, and democratic means. It is also a crucial step toward achieving an honorable peace."

"A vital and social issue"

Saki added: "As emphasized in the concluding statement of our DEM Party Women’s Assembly conference under the slogan 'We Insist on Free and Equal Life, We Are Organizing,' isolation is not merely a human rights issue; it is a vital and societal issue that gives the regime its fascist character. The persistence of war and hostile policies simultaneously empowers patriarchy and male dominance. This means the militarization, mafia-like structuring, and criminalization of society as a whole. It leads to the rise in femicides, the intensification of male violence, the increase in women’s poverty, and the devaluation of women’s labor. Moreover, we recognize that the ruling AKP is intensifying efforts to establish an isolation regime that heavily affects women. In response, we acknowledge our responsibility to organize a comprehensive resistance line embodied in the slogan “Jin Jiyan Azadî” (Women, Life, Freedom), which has become a symbol of international women’s struggle."

"Isolation itself is a regime of coercion"

Suzan Akipa, a lawyer from the Asrın Law Office, said that the isolation imposed on Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan has no legal justification. She explained why isolation must end by saying: "The answer to this question is connected to a profound historical principle, as highlighted in Mr. Öcalan’s Roadmap: societal issues cannot be suppressed by force."

She continued: "Isolation itself is, in fact, a regime of coercion. It is a method that aims to ignore, suppress, and render the person in isolation invisible through extralegal means. Of course, the isolation imposed on Mr. Öcalan has legal, political, social, regional, and global dimensions directly related to his political and social position."

Isolation regime and its broader implications

Akipa added: “The isolation regime reveals the extent to which Turkey disregards its own legal, constitutional, and universal law systems. It also highlights the arbitrariness of officials, the influence of politics on the judiciary, and the reluctance of international institutions to address this issue—often due to various vested interests. For a quarter of a century, these interconnected factors have contributed to the current crisis facing the Turkish population. This crisis is both a cause and a consequence of the isolation, with the Kurdish issue at its core. Abdullah Öcalan’s isolation is intrinsically linked to the Kurdish issue, reflecting his role in a potential solution and the support he holds within the Kurdish community.”

No legal justification for isolation

Akipa continued: "Isolation must be lifted because, first and foremost, Turkey, which defines itself as a state governed by the rule of law in its constitution and is a signatory to international agreements, is compelled to return to lawful practices, respect legal principles, and dismantle this system of isolation. The government has a responsibility in this regard. There is no legal justification for the isolation imposed on Mr. Öcalan."

A pathway out of the crisis

Akipa underlined that "over the past 25 years, whenever there has been an opportunity or whenever societal resistance has slightly breached this isolation, Öcalan has demonstrated a commitment to addressing and resolving key issues. He has proposed pathways toward democratization, offered concrete solutions, and represented an external mindset that acknowledges his influence. Breaking this isolation, recognizing his full legal rights, ensuring regular family and lawyer visits, and ending the coercive isolation regime would be foundational steps toward resolving the ongoing crisis."