In its June 27, 2025 Action Plan submitted to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Turkey stated that it will not grant “the right to hope” to prisoners serving aggravated life sentences. Despite the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) rulings on Abdullah Öcalan and other prisoners, Turkey has announced that it will not amend the relevant legislation.
The plan recalled that Abdullah Öcalan had been held in solitary confinement since 1999 and argued that current conditions were sufficient. The Turkish government officially denied the right to hope, stating that the parole arrangement would not apply to these prisoners.
This approach has sparked new debate on whether Turkey will fulfill its international obligations despite ECtHR rulings.
July 8, 2025
FıratNews