International Delegation: Öcalan must be released and concrete peace talks must be taken

The international delegation applied to the Ministry of Justice requesting to meet with Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan who is held in aggravated isolation in İmralı Island Prison.


ANF
ANKARA
Tuesday, 3 December 2024

The International Delegation, which arrived in Turkey to demand the lifting of isolation in İmralı, made a statement after submitting a petition to the Ministry of Justice.

The delegation includes Walter Baier, President of the European Left Party; Francesca Ghirra & Matteo Massa, members of the Italian Green Left Alliance; Eduardo Jorge Costa Pinto, member of the Portuguese Parliament; Eulàlia Reguant Cura, Catalan Parliament Member; Blai Tabarner, Board Member of the Catalan CUP; Anne Kulseng Berg, Leader of the Kurdish Solidarity Group of the Norwegian Red Party; Caterina Posterino, Director of the Italian General Confederation of Labor; Francesca Baruffaldi, Director of the Italian Confederation of Workers; Journalists Benedetta Rossi & Daniela Galie; Raphaëlle Primet, Chair of the Communist Group of the Paris City Council; Jakob Migenda, Representative of the Left Party of Hesse, Germany; and Yusuf Karaçelik, Representative of the Left Party in Germany. The delegation was accompanied by Ebru Günay, DEM Party Vice Co-Chair Responsible for Foreign Affairs, members of the Party's Executive Board, and MPs.

After submitting the petition to the Ministry of Justice, the delegation held a press conference in front of the Ministry.

MP Saliha Aydeniz: Turkey’s government and state must now listen to Mr. Öcalan’s role, his position, and his will for peace

DEM Party MP Saliha Aydeniz stated: "We are here in front of the Ministry of Justice. Our party, along with many other institutions, has been working to resolve the Kurdish issue through democratic methods and approaches. We have always said that if there is to be a dignified peace in Turkey, it must be achieved through democratic means. We will continue to say this. Today, we are joined by an international delegation. The purpose of their visit is to request a meeting with Mr. Öcalan. For a democratic resolution of the Kurdish issue, the government and the state must now listen to Mr. Öcalan’s role, his position, and his will for peace, not just through words or gestures but through concrete actions."

Following the brief speech by MP Saliha Aydeniz, the delegation’s statement was delivered by Benedetta Rossi.

Support for the DEM Party

The statement said: "We are here to support the DEM Party and show solidarity with the Kurdish people. We believe that, especially at this time, it is essential to engage with the Turkish government to explore potential strategies for constructive dialogue, and it is vital to highlight the importance of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan’s voice in this process.

After the invasion of Tal Rifaat and the attack on Kurdish districts in Aleppo, the Kurdish population risks annihilation. As a matter of fact, since 26 November, Aleppo region has been at the centre of an unprecedented military escalation that is jeopardising the lives of thousands of civilians, especially those belonging to the Kurdish population. The situation is extremely tense and increasingly vulnerable civilians are facing an unprecedented siege and humanitarian crisis."

Rojava is a beacon of hope

The statement added: "The Rojava Revolution was a unique experience of self-determination, human rights and resistance against oppression. Originating in the Kurdish lands of northern Syria, the revolution has built a system that promotes gender equality, direct democracy and peaceful coexistence between different ethnic groups and religions. In a context of conflict and instability, Rojava has been a beacon of hope, showing the world that it is possible to build an inclusive and just society, even under the most difficult conditions.

The resilience of Kurdish forces has had a decisive impact in the fight against Islamic State terrorism, contributing to the stabilisation of the region. Nonetheless, ten years after the historic Kobane resistance that put an end to ISIS expansion, this model of society is currently being threatened, with the annihilation not only of the Kurdish people, but also of the values of freedom and democracy that Rojava embodies."

Open the door to a political solution to the Syrian civil war

The statement continued: "Therefore, we would like to make a strong appeal: Swift and decisive action is needed to stop the violence and avoid a new humanitarian catastrophe. The future of Syria, and especially of the communities living there, is uncertain, but hope lies in international solidarity and a concrete political and humanitarian response that can guarantee the security and dignity of all the peoples of the region and open the door to a political solution to the Syrian civil war.

We want to reiterate today that the situation of the Kurdish people has implications both for Turkey and the international community. We believe Mr. Abdullah Öcalan's contribution is crucial in facilitating dialogue and promoting understanding between the Turkish government and Kurdish communities. Mr. Öcalan's efforts, particularly in 2013-2015, were significant, as he advocated a peaceful resolution through a carefully crafted road map. This approach received a positive response from those who were willing to actively engage in this peace process.

The deprivation of Mr. Öcalan's inalienable human rights on the island prison of Imrali, where he has been held in isolation for 25 years, ignores international and national jurisdiction. On 18 March 2014, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that the sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole imposed on Mr. Öcalan constitutes a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)."

Need for release of Mr. Öcalan and concrete peace talks

The statement pointed out that: "This article of the Convention states that no one shall be subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The court also ruled that his sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole violated his fundamental right to hope, effectively amounting to a prolonged death sentence.

In its judgment of 19 September 2014, the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers also called on Turkey to comply with the ECHR rulings. Despite all these criticisms and rulings, the illegal isolation of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan has continued since 2021.

We are here to remind the Turkish government about this important ruling of international law and to appeal to their sense of justice and compliance with the basic principles of democracy and human rights. Therefore, we strongly demand the immediate release of Mr. Öcalan and the start of concrete peace talks and we will be determined to continue our effort in this direction until a just peace agreement for Kurdish people is reached and Mr. Öcalan is finally free."