Turkey: Political Prisoners

(asked on 20th May 2019) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has has with his Turkish counterpart on political prisoners participating in hunger strikes in that country.


Answered by
Alan Duncan Portrait
Alan Duncan
This question was answered on 23rd May 2019

​I raised the issue most recently with the Turkish Ambassador on 13 May. While strongly condemning the ongoing violence perpetrated by the Kurdistan Workers' Party, a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, we have encouraged the Turkish authorities to implement the recommendations made by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture following their visit to Imrali prison where Mr Öcalan is detained. In this regard, I welcome the fact that Mr Öcalan was granted access to two lawyers on 2 May. I also note the comment made by Mr Öcalan, via his lawyers, that individuals should not pursue these hunger strikes to the point of serious illness or death.

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