ISTANBUL - With the petition published by 768 legists who said that meeting the request of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan to meet with his lawyers is a requirement of the rule of law, said: "Demanding the implementation of the law is the most fundamental citizenship right and duty."

 

Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) launched a petition for PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. 768 legists and lawyers, who announced their campaigns with their advertisement in Yeni Yaşam newspaper, were asked to pave the way for Öcalan to meet with his lawyers as soon as possible. Among the signatories are including Eren Keskin, who is the co-chairperson of the Human Rights Association, and the lawyers of Asrın Law Office. In the text, it was pointed out that Abdullah Öcalan has not been allowed to meet with his lawyers since August 7, and it was emphasized that Abdullah Öcalan has a request to meet with his lawyers and that this request is a requirement of the rule of law.

 

The entire text of the campaign is as follows:

 

"To the press and the public, 

 

According to universal and national law, every person imprisoned has the right to access a lawyer. A lawyer is an essential element of the right to defense, as well as one of the basic guarantees against possible ill-treatment practices in the execution of a sentence. Despite these requirements and legal regulations, Abdullah Öcalan has been allowed to meet with his lawyers only five times in the last 10 years. After August 7, 2019, all kinds of contact with his lawyers are prevented. His last public statement was his request to meet with his lawyers. Meeting this demand is a requirement of the rule of law. Otherwise, it is against the laws of the Republic of Turkey and the international conventions to which it is a party. Demanding the implementation of the law is the most fundamental civic right and duty. We present it to the attention of the public with respect."