İmralı prison

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İmralı prison
Imrali prison.jpg
Entrance of İmralı prison
Imrali location.jpg
Coordinates40°33′21″N 28°32′35″E / 40.55583°N 28.54306°E / 40.55583; 28.54306Coordinates: 40°33′21″N 28°32′35″E / 40.55583°N 28.54306°E / 40.55583; 28.54306
Opened1935
State/provinceBursa Province
CountryTurkey

İmralı prison is an F-Type high security prison on the island of İmralı in the Sea of Marmara in Turkey. It is currently used as a prison for a few prisoners from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and one prisoner of the Communist Party of Turkey/Marxist–Leninist (TKP/ML).[1] The prison facility is guarded by the military and is also monitored over satellite imagery from space.[2]

Location[]

The prison is located on İmralı island in the Sea of Marmara, south of Istanbul. The island is accessible by boat from Mudanya at the southern coast of the Sea of Marmara.[3]

History[]

It was established in 1935 as a semi-open prison and is a witness to several memorable moments in Turkish history.[4] Following the Turkish military coup in 1960, ex-Prime Minister Adnan Menderes was imprisoned on the island.[5] After the death sentences delivered at the Yassıada trials, on Yassiada island, the ex-Foreign Minister Fatin Rüştü Zorlu and ex-Finance Minister Hasan Polatkan were both hanged on the 15 September 1961 while Menderes was hanged two days later.[6] After February 1999, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) Abdullah Öcalan was captured, the island was vacated and placed within a military zone.[4] In November 2009, a new detention facility was inaugurated, to which Öcalan and five other prisoners coming from mainland Turkey were transferred.[7]

Detention conditions[]

Until 1999, the prison's inmates produced soap and some were employed as shepherds of animals.[8] After the capture of Abdullah Öcalan in February 1999, the animals as well as the prison population were transferred to mainland Turkey to make space for the security personnel and Öcalan.[8] Between 1999 and 2009, he was the only inmate. In November 2009, he was joined by five other prisoners.[2] Since 1999 the detention conditions have been controlled several times by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).[9] The prisoners have access to health facilities on the island[10] and can interact with each other for six hours per week.[11]

Prison breaks[]

Billy Hayes, who was imprisoned for smuggling hashish from Turkey, escaped from the island in 1975.[12]

In 1997, several Chechens who were imprisoned on the island were also able to escape.[8]

In popular culture[]

Billy Hayes's stay on and escape from İmralı prison are portrayed in the film Midnight Express by Oliver Stone, which is based on Hayes's book of the same name.[12]

In the film Yol by Yilmaz Güney, inmates are seen preparing for a visit at home.[4][13]

Notable inmates[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Öcalan'ın İmralı'dan gönderilmesini istediği 5 mahkûmun isimleri". T24 (in Turkish). Retrieved 2020-11-01.
  2. ^ a b "PKK leader Ocalan gets company in prison". United Press International. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  3. ^ "Ocalan Affecting Turkish Town". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  4. ^ a b c Morris, Chris (1999-02-20). "Turkey makes sure its prison island is deserted for a new Kurdish inmate". The Guardian. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
  5. ^ "May 27: A dark military coup in Turkey". May 27: A dark military coup in Turkey. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
  6. ^ a b "Turkey's first coup still a raw nerve". BBC News. 2010-05-28. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  7. ^ "Report to the Turkish Government". Council of Europe. 9 July 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  8. ^ a b c King, Laura (1 March 1999). "Ocalan Affecting Turkish Town". Associated Press. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  9. ^ "Report to the Turkish Government". Council of Europe. 20 March 2018. p. 3.
  10. ^ "Report to the Turkish Government". Council of Europe. p.4
  11. ^ "Report to the Turkish Government". Council of Europe, p. 5
  12. ^ a b c Romero, Frances (2011-04-26). "Top 10 Prison Escapes – TIME". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  13. ^ Schultz, Deanne (2007). Filmography of World History. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-313-32681-3.
  14. ^ Hudgins, Graven (18 September 1960). "Turks hang ex-Premier Menderes". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 3.
  15. ^ Silverman, Reuben (6 September 2014). "The Realm of the Ugly King". Jadaliyya – جدلية. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
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