Turkey allows lawyers to visit jailed Kurdish rebel leader

May 16, 2019 - 6:52 AM

ANKARA, Turkey - Turkey's justice minister says imprisoned Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan will be allowed regular visits by his lawyers to his island prison.

Abdulhamit Gul announced the decision Thursday amid a hunger strike by hundreds of prisoners across Turkey who are demanding improved conditions for Ocalan, including permission for family members and lawyers to visit.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is preparing to court Kurdish votes ahead of a repeat mayoral election in Istanbul on June 23.

Lawyers visited Ocalan on Imrali island, off Istanbul, on May 2, and relayed a message asking that the hunger strikes end. It was the first time lawyers were able to see him since 2011.

Ocalan, the leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, has been serving a life prison term since 1999.

News from © The Associated Press, 2019

More News ...

iN RESPONSE: Readers have their say
Following are emailed reader responses to stories or letters to the editor for the third week of April 2024. They have been edited slightly for readability. Got something you want to add? Send an email to editor Marshall Jones at mjo

Fruit packers near Kelowna fined another $78,000
A fruit packing plant in the Ellison area east of Kelowna was hit with another $78,368 in fines for discharging effluent into a failed septic field. That’s now more than $110,000 in fines since 2022 for the same issue at Sandher Fruit

No weed, just beer: Bavaria bans smoking cannabis at Oktoberfest and beer gardens
BERLIN (AP) — You can get drunk at Bavaria's world-famous Oktoberfest, but don't get high. The southern German state will ban smoking cannabis at public festivals, inside beer gardens, and even at the Oktoberfest, the world

Thousands of short-term rentals in B.C. go back to long-term May 1
LANGLEY, B.C. - British Columbia Premier David Eby is warning real estate investors and speculators that his government is tilting the rules towards families seeking homes as it tightens the rules on short-term rentals. Eby said Thursday th

Popular kelowna News

Lemonade stand sparks overwhelming support for Kamloops family
The old adage “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” never made more sense for a mother of three in Kamloops. Cara English’s daughter set up a lemonade stand to raise
April 17, 2024 7:00 AM
Kelowna winery says accountant took almost a half-million dollars
The owners of a Kelowna winery and golf course allege their former controller took nearly $450,000 in just 30 months on the job. The Turton Group, which owns The View winery as well as Orcha
April 15, 2024 6:00 PM
RCMP tight-lipped about serious crime investigation at Kamloops home
RCMP investigators have been at a North Kamloops home since late last week, but police are tight-lipped as to why. A Kamloops RCMP forensic team along with members of the serious crime unit
April 16, 2024 3:04 PM
North Okanagan murder suspect tried to return to family home after release: daughter
Family of North Okanagan woman Tatjana Stefanski, who was found dead yesterday and presumed murdered, say they are dealing with grief, but also some fear and anger. In a social media post, h
April 16, 2024 1:34 PM
North Okanagan family 'aren't safe' after murder suspect released
A North Okanagan man whose partner was abducted and killed says he doesn’t feel his family is safe after police released the suspected killer. Police have released Vitali Steffan, also
April 16, 2024 6:00 PM

Trending Now

TRENDING NOW: Latest humanoid robot amazing yet terrifying

View Site in: Desktop | Mobile

Turkey allows lawyers to visit jailed Kurdish rebel leader

Trending Now

Kamloops

Kelowna

Penticton

Vernon