AMED – Hakkı Boltan, the father of seriously ill prisoner Civan Boltan, for whom the ECHR issued a violation ruling on the "right to hope," pointed to the responsibility of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, which has imposed no sanctions on Turkey for failing to implement the ruling, and said: "If something happens to Civan, they are the ones responsible."

 

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in March 2014 that the imposition of an aggravated life sentence without the possibility of conditional release on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan constituted a violation of the "right to hope." Although the ECHR subsequently issued similar rulings regarding Emin Gurban, Hayati Kaytan and Civan Boltan, Turkey has to date made no legislative arrangements.

 

The Council of Europe (CoE) Committee of Ministers (CM), periodically warning Turkey and granting it extensions to make the necessary arrangements, has nonetheless imposed no sanctions despite 12 years of inaction. The CoE CM, which placed the "right to hope" on its agenda at its meeting in September 2025 and gave Turkey a deadline of June 2026, did not even place the "right to hope" on its agenda at its meeting held between 9-11 June, let alone impose sanctions on Turkey.

 

While it is known that there are more than 4,000 convicts in Turkey covered by the "right to hope," the situation of ill prisoners remains urgent on this point. Civan Boltan, for whom the ECHR issued a violation ruling on the "right to hope," is also on the Human Rights Association's (İHD) list of seriously ill prisoners. Boltan, for whom Diyarbakır Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital issued a report stating he "cannot remain in prison," is trying to sustain his life alone in Bolu F-Type Prison. Boltan's father Hakkı Boltan shared his assessments regarding his son's health condition and the stance of the CoE CM.

 

'IT IS BEING APPLIED AS PUNISHMENT'

 

Stating that his wife has not been able to see Civan for 8 years due to her health condition, and that he himself has not been able to see him for 4-5 years, Boltan said they keep each other informed of their situations through letters and phone calls. He said that many methods could be applied to allow him to see his son but that this is not being done, and that this is "being applied as punishment." Stating that Civan is deliberately being held in a city far from them, father Boltan said they want to demoralize his son and his comrades, but that everyone is aware of the situation.

 

Recalling that his son is missing one arm and one eye, has a shrapnel fragment in his head, and is a seriously ill prisoner, Boltan said that doctors have stated the shrapnel fragment could be the cause of death, but that the prison nonetheless continues to subject his son to torture and solitary confinement. Father Boltan recalled the "cannot remain in prison" report and the ECHR rulings issued for his son, and said these decisions and reports are not being taken into consideration and the torture is continuing.

 

THE STANCE OF THE CoE

 

Recalling the rulings through which the ECHR has found Turkey in violation on the "right to hope" — primarily with regard to Abdullah Öcalan — Boltan underlined that Turkey has to date not made the arrangements required by the ECHR. Drawing attention to the CoE CM's stance on this point, Boltan said that Turkey is not acting in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), to which it is a signatory, and that the CoE CM is neither following up on this nor pressuring Turkey. "The Council should have imposed an embargo on Turkey for failing to implement the ruling. Turkey should have been left with no choice but to change the law. But they are postponing human rights for their own interests," he said.

 

'IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO CIVAN, THE CoE IS RESPONSIBLE'

 

Adding that the CoE CM, which has imposed no sanctions on Turkey for failing to make arrangements on the "right to hope," bears primary responsibility, Boltan said: "Because this is their law. The CoE CM is responsible for all of them — Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, Hayati Kaytan, Emin Gurban, Civan and those like them. The CoE CM is responsible for Civan's illnesses, and for the punishments inflicted on us through Civan. If something happens to Civan, they are the ones responsible."

 

Addressing the CoE CM, Boltan said: "He is your member, yet you apply no pressure. His laws are being trampled underfoot, yet you do not ask 'Why are you trampling my laws underfoot?' You give time, time passes. Every year things go further backward, yet still this is not being followed up by you," emphasizing the responsibility of the CoE CM.

 

Pointing to the Peace and Democratic Society Process, Boltan underlined that the most important and sensitive issue in this process is the situation of ill prisoners. Drawing attention to the fact that there are many ill prisoners like his son, Boltan emphasized that this matter needs to be resolved urgently. Stating that the failure to release ill prisoners is creating distrust in society in the context of the process, Boltan noted that steps need to be taken on this point.

 

Finally, Boltan called for the implementation of the "right to hope."

 

MA / Rukiye Payiz Adıgüzel