Stefan Schennach, one of the co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Turkey’s obligations and commitments, announced his report on prisons in Turkey. The report on his visits to prisons between 11-14 June included numerous violations of rights. Schennach also drew attention to the isolation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan who is held in incommunicado detention in the İmralı Island Prison in Turkey.

Speaking to the Mesopotamia Agency, Schennach stated that isolation is a form of torture against human rights, adding, “I will apply to visit Abdullah Öcalan.” The PACE Rapporteur will pay another visit to Turkey in January.

Schennach also drew attention to the Turkish government’s usurpation of municipalities and said, “Elected mayors are elected mayors. The government has to accept democracy.”

Noting that Turkey does not implement the judgements of the ECtHR, Schennach stated that the initiatives for the implementation of these judgements will continue. He stated that the Council of Ministers also insisted on the implementation of the judgements.