News Flash
Council of Europe Anti-Torture Committee
publishes report on Turkey
Strasbourg, 25.02.2004 - The Council of Europe's Committee for the prevention
of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (CPT) has published
today the report on its visit to Turkey in
February 2003, together with the Turkish Government's response.
These documents have been made public with the agreement of the Turkish
authorities.
The February 2003 visit was triggered by persistent reports that relatives
and lawyers of Abdullah ÖCALAN had been experiencing considerable difficulties
in gaining access to Imrali island, where he is detained. The CPT's delegation
examined in detail the visiting arrangements for prisoners held at Imrali Closed
Prison and interviewed Abdullah Öcalan, who is currently the establishment's
sole inmate. The delegation also reviewed his conditions of detention, in the
light of recommendations made by the CPT after its previous visits to Imrali
Closed Prison in March 1999 and September 2001.
The CPT's visit report and the Turkish
authorities' response are available on the Committee's website http://www.cpt.coe.int.
