HC Deb 19 May 2004 vol 421 c1086W
Tom Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish Government on political prisoners being held in Turkish prisons; which individual cases were discussed; and if he will make a statement. [173536]

Mr. MacShane

We are in constant dialogue with the Turkish Government on human rights issues, which includes prisoners' rights. We also raise individual cases, such as that of Leyla Zana and the three other Kurdish Democracy Party MPs. I discussed the case with Leyla Zana's lawyer during my trip to Turkey in January, before raising it with the authorities. The outcome of the retrial is extremely disappointing and at odds with the reform process to which the Turkish Government are clearly committed. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised human rights issues with the Turkish Prime Minister during his visit to Turkey as part of the first ever UK-Turkey Prime Ministerial summit.

Tom Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish Government on the(a) health and (b) prison conditions under which Mr. Abdullah Ocalan is being held by the Turkish authorities. [173996]

Mr. MacShane

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) on 8 March 2004,Official Report, column 1323W.

We note that the Turkish authorities have been in dialogue with the Centre for Prevention of Torture on Ocalan's prison conditions and have agreed to undertake a number of measures in light of recommendations made by the centre.

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