For the past 14 days, MPs from the HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) parliamentary group have been holding a vigil in Ankara for the lifting of the isolation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. There has been no sign of life from the prison island of Imrali for 22 months. Every day, the MPs try to march to the Ministry of Justice, but are repeatedly prevented from doing so by the police. HDP deputies Remziye Tosun, Mehmet Rüştü Tiryaki, Mahmut Celadet Gaydalı, Erol Katırcıoğlu, Erdal Aydemir, Kemal Bülbül, Kemal Peköz, Hüseyin Kaçmaz, Muazzez Orhan Işık and Nuran Imir therefore made another statement in front of the parliament on Tuesday. The MPs held signs that read: "The law should also apply to Imrali" and "Isolation is a crime against humanity".

"THE GOVERNMENT WANTS DARKNESS AND CHAOS TO REIGN"

In her speech, HDP MP Nuran Imir pointed out the special law executed on Imrali and especially the escalation of the last 22 months. Addressing the Ministry of Justice, the Kurdish politician said: "If you are not able to take responsibility, you should leave the place you occupy." She continued, "We know that the government maintains and tries to expand its power through its war policy. The isolation on Imrali is part of the special war policy. Every day people lose their lives in this war. At the same time, people in Turkey live in poverty. Turkey is violating both its own law and international law."

"WE WILL DO EVERYTHING TO BREAK THE ISOLATION"

Imir further explained: "Today we see that the regime has caused a moral degeneration in society. Many laws and rules are being violated. These arbitrary practices must be abandoned immediately. We want to stop the chaos and prevent political stalemate. Mr. Öcalan's situation is a reflection of the reality in Turkey. You can try to stop him by imposing bans, criminalising and isolating people, but he has so much weight that he can bring about a big change in the political situation. As HDP, we have always said in every aspect of our political struggle that we are not for war. Our struggle has always been for freedom of thought, democratic politics and the development of this country. The government must give up its hostility towards the Kurds. We will do whatever it takes to break the isolation."