Amnesty International believes that solitary confinement of any prisoner carries the risk of serious mental and physical harm and can amount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

The imprisonment of a person in total isolation is not acceptable under international human rights standards - as iterated European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

The organisation welcomes the recent announcement by Mr. Mehmet Elkatmis, chairman of the Turkish Parliamentary Human Rights Monitoring Committee, that he will seek a visit to examine the conditions under which Abdullah Ocalan is being held.

However, the organisation meanwhile urges the Turkish authorities to take immediate steps to remedy the situation and to allow the access of lawyers and family.