[prisoner-rights] Council of Europe Anti-Torture Committee visits Turkey

Strasbourg, 25.05.2007 -- A delegation of the Council of Europe Committee
for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (CPT) has recently completed a three-day visit to Turkey.

On 20 and 21 May 2007, the delegation visited Imral1 Closed Prison, where
it examined the treatment of that establishment's sole inmate, Abdullah
Öcalan. Aspects of this prisoner's situation considered by the
delegation included his conditions of detention, the application in
practice of his right to receive visits from his relatives and lawyers,
and his state of health.

On 22 May, the delegation met the Minister of Justice, Mr Fahri Kas1rga,
and provided him with its preliminary observations.

The visit was carried out by Marc Nève, lawyer and CPT member in respect
of Belgium (Head of delegation) and Jean-Pierre Restellini, specialist in
internal and forensic medicine, CPT member in respect of Switzerland. They
were assisted by Timothy Harding, psychiatrist and Director of the
University Institute of Forensic Medicine, Geneva, and Fabrice Kellens,
Deputy Executive Secretary of the CPT.

CPT Press release