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Fears for Öcalan's health

 
25 July
10:05 2015

DİYARBAKİR (DİHA) - As the Turkish state continues the policy of isolation of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, activists say they fear for his health.

Jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan has been subject to a policy of isolation since the Turkish state arrested him in an international operation in 1999. Now, since April 5, Öcalan has been completely cut off from access to the outside world; neither his family nor his lawyers have been able to meet with him.

Razaman Bülbül, of the Health Assembly of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK), has repeatedly applied for a healthcare delegation to be sent to the island to evaluate Öcalan's health condition. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice have rejected all such applications.

'Öcalan had serious health problems'

Before the isolation of recent months began, Öcalan's brother Mehmet Öcalan had spoken with the jailed laeder about his health. "He expressed that Öcalan had serious health problems and that there was constant discharge from his eyes," said Bülbül. He said it was necessary that the state improve Öcalan's conditions for the sake of his eye and throat problems--but he noted that the foundation of all the problems was the fact that Öcalan was imprisoned at all.

'Long years of imprisonment can lead to a number of problems'

Bülbül noted that long years of imprisonment can lead to a number of problems in the body. Öcalan's age also leads to concerns about diabetes, blood pressure and heart disease. He noted that imprisonment could lead to complications in any of these problems, which could become serious, as Öcalan does not have regular checkups. According to the Ottawa Agreement and the Istanbul Protocol, to which Turkey is a signatory, all prisoners need to have access to healthcare.

"But in prisons in Turkey, this is not implemented; in fact, it is turned into a subject of bargaining," said Bülbül.

(cm/nt)



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