International reactions to the aggravated isolation of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been kept in İmralı Prison under severe incommunicado conditions and from whom no news has been received for over 3 years, and the attitude of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), which has the sole authority to enter İmralı, continue.

Recently, a letter signed by dozens of parliamentarians, representatives of political parties and trade unions, lawyers, intellectuals and writers was sent to Dr Alan Mitchell, President of the CPT, by the committee 'The time has come, Freedom for Öcalan' in order to draw attention to the conditions of isolation in which Abdullah Öcalan finds himself and to remind the CPT of its responsibilities.

A letter written by Luana Zanella, Chair of the Greens Left Alliance Group, and signed by 11 MPs of the National Parliament and 5 senators on Wednesday 29 May, the CPT was urgently requested to send a delegation to İmralı.

Group President Luana Zanella said the following in her letter: ‘We are sending you a letter of appeal initiated by the Italian Committee for Freedom for Mr Öcalan, requesting the CPT to urgently send a delegation to Imrali Island Prison to inquire about the situation of Mr Abdullah Öcalan. The conditions in which Mr Öcalan is being held are a matter of serious concern for us. Due to the absolute isolation regime to which he is subjected, no one knows about Mr Öcalan. In this context, we request the CPT to send a delegation to İmralı urgently, taking into account the demands in the letter.”

Signatories:

Angelo Bonelli, Portavoce nazionale Europa Verde, deputato Alleanza Verdi Sinistra

Nicola Fratoianni, Segretario nazionale Sinistra Italiana, deputato Alleanza Verdi Sinistra

Luana Zanella, Presidente del Gruppo Alleanza Verdi Sinistra alla Camera

Peppe De Cristofaro, Presidente Gruppo Misto al Senato - Senatore Alleanza Verdi Sinistra

Marco Grimaldi, Vice Presidente del Gruppo Alleanza Verdi Sinistra alla Camera

Francesco Emilio Borelli, Deputato Alleanza Verdi Sinistra

Ilaria Cucchi, Senatrice Alleanza Verdi Sinistra

Devis Dori, Deputato Alleanza Verdi Sinistra

Francesca Ghirra, Deputata Alleanza Verdi Sinistra

Aurora Floridia, Senatrice Alleanza Verdi Sinistra

Tino Magni, Senatore Alleanza Verdi Sinistra

Francesco Mari, Deputato Alleanza Verdi Sinistra

Elisabetta Piccolotti, Deputata Alleanza Verdi Sinistra

Filiberto Zaratti, Deputato Alleanza Verdi Sinistra

Massimiliano Smeriglio, parlamentare europeo Alleanza Verdi Sinistra. 

On the other hand, the Secretaries General of the Communist Refoundation Party of Italy Maurizio Acerbo and Anna Camposampiero, the Co-Presidents of the CRED Centre for Research and Development for Democracy, Advocates Michela Arrecale and Fabio Marcelli, Advocate Arturo Salerni on behalf of the Progetto Diritti Law Office, Advocate Aurora d'Agostino, Co-President of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers, and leaders of the COBAS People's Union also sent a letter to CPT President Dr. Alan Mitchell, drawing attention to the conditions of isolation Abdullah Öcalan is in and calling for the CPT to visit İmralı urgently.