Statement
The International Committee for the Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan—an independent, interdisciplinary, legal-cultural body—hereby announces the submission of a formal petition signed by 571 academics, legal experts, and human rights defenders worldwide to relevant international institutions.
On April 1, 2026, the full petition, including the list of signatories, was formally submitted—together with the Committee’s requests—to above mentioned 13 international human rights bodies and relevant United Nations mechanisms. This step constitutes an initial phase of the Committee’s mandate to present, pursue, and legally assess these demands at the international level, and aims to activate relevant monitoring and accountability mechanisms.
This petition draws urgent global attention to the regime of isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı Island Prison—a condition that has persisted for over 27 years and constitutes a severe, continuous, and systematic violation of fundamental human rights.
The petition calls upon international institutions to:
1. Ensure Immediate Access
Guarantee prompt, regular, and unhindered access to legal counsel, family
members, and independent monitoring bodies.
2. Implement the “Right to Hope”
Establish a transparent, effective, and periodic review mechanism.
3. Ensure Independent Monitoring
Strengthen international oversight of detention conditions in İmralı Prison.