ECtHR Rejects Ill-Treatment Application of Öcalan

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The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has given its verdict regarding the application of Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), who previously applied to the court on the ground that "the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment" was violated during a search conducted in his prison cell in 2008.

In its verdict announced today (September 27), the ECtHR found the application "unacceptable" and rejected it unanimously.

Verdicts of non-prosecution for investigations

Öcalan submitted a petition to the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office through his attorneys on the ground that he was subjected to ill-treatment and torture by prison wardens during a search that was conducted in his cell in İmralı Prison on October 8, 2008.

A verdict of non-prosecution was issued for the disciplinary investigation that was launched against one prison administrator and two prison wardens.

In January 2009, the Mudanya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office also completed the investigation and given a verdict of non-prosecution. After the Yalova Heavy Penal Court rejected the objection submitted against this verdict, an appeal was made to the ECtHR.

His other complaints have also been rejected

The ECtHR announced its verdict regarding the application of Öcalan today and stated that "the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment" as per the Article no. 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights has not been violated.

The court has also ruled that "the right to life" and "the prohibition of discrimination" as foreseen by the Articles no. 2 and 14 of the convention have also not been violated. (AS/SD)