LAWYERS for jailed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan demanded urgent access to him yesterday after rumours of his death in Turkey circulated on social media. 

The Asrin Law Office insisted that the only way to find out the truth was to be able to communicate with him. 

In a statement, it said that it takes such claims very seriously, adding that it had not been able to meet Mr Ocalan for a long time. 

The PKK leader’s last phone call was to his brother in March 2020 and he has not been heard from since. 

His lawyers have made numerous applications to see him, but all have been refused by the authorities, in violation of his rights under international law. 

Mr Ocalan has been in isolation for most of his time in prison, being held on the island of Imrali in the Sea of Marmara since 1999.

Rumours of his death frequently circulate. One source told the Morning Star that the most recent could be intended to disrupt this weekend’s celebrations of Newroz, the Kurdish new year. 

“Once again, we urge the political and administrative authorities to end the isolation,” the Asrin Law Office said, adding that it was  applying for an urgent visit to the PKK leader.