ISTANBUL - Stating that a delegation will be sent to Turkey within the scope of the "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan" campaign, Hatip Dicle said: "This is a long-term campaign. The goal is to end the isolation and ensure Öcalan's physical freedom."

 

There has been no news from PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is held in severe isolation conditions in İmralı Type F High Security Prison, for 33 months. In order to end the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan and ensure his physical freedom, an international campaign was launched on October 10 with the slogan "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, solution to the Kurdish issue". Various actions and events are organized in Türkiye, Kurdistan and many parts of the world within the scope of the campaign. Thousands of prisoners in 104 prisons also participated in the growing campaign with the alternating hunger strike that started on November 27.

 

'THERE IS A GREAT SUPPORT'

 

Stating that the campaign is just the beginning, Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan Kurdish politician Hatip Dicle, Spokesperson of the Kurdish issue Solution Platform said: "We drew attention to the importance of Abdullah Öcalan's physical freedom. The campaign will continue all over the world. The campaign started simultaneously in 74 centers from various parts of the world, on 5-6 continents. The symbolic meaning of being in 74 countries is that it represents Abdullah Öcalan's age. Friends of the Kurdish people, politicians, lawyers, intellectuals, intellectuals and trade unionists simultaneously launched the freedom campaign. There is great support in the world. This is a long-term campaign. The goal and purpose is to end the isolation imposed on Öcalan and ensure his physical freedom."

 

DELEGATION WILL VISIT TO TURKEY

 

Stating that their work on the campaign continues uninterruptedly, Dicle said: "Marches, rallies, youth and women's conferences were held in this context. The 'move' will be expanded with diplomatic and political activities. A delegation including parliamentarians, lawyers and scientists will visit Turkey in the near future and they will take initiatives with state officials.

 

'WE HAVE NO INFORMATION ABOUT THE LIFE OF ÖCALAN'

 

Stating that isolation is a crime against humanity, Dicle said: "There has been no news from İmralı for 33 months. We have no information about Abdullah Öcalan's health condition, life, security etc. No information is given on these subjects. Even though lawyers are pushing the CPT, there is no result. This is a great crime against humanity."

 

'INTERNATIONAL LAW IS BEING VIOLATED'

 

Underlining that local and international law was violated with isolation policies, Dicle said: "No prisoner's right to meet with their family and lawyers could be usurped. The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) did not publish the report it prepared on İmralı Prison after visiting the prisons. CPT justifies Turkey's refusal to allow it. Bodies such as the Council of Europe and the CPT are turning a blind eye to the violation of international law by tolerating Turkey. Turkey's opinion and discipline bans are completely fabricated. In its decision, the ECtHR (European Court of Human Rights) states that 'a person cannot be deprived of his freedom for more than 25 years'. This year is Abdullah Öcalan's 25th anniversary; therefore, the fact that the campaign attracted so much attention worldwide is a clear implementation of this unlawfulness."

 

'WEST STATES ARE COMPLICIT IN THE ISOLATION POLICIES'

 

Referring to the role of western countries in deepening isolation policies, Dicle said: “Western countries previously remained silent against the international conspiracy, and even took part in it. Today, they are complicit in the isolation policies by not taking action against them. Regarding the conspiracy, Abdullah Öcalan's statement that "Turkey is just acting as my guard" shows this fact. If the European Parliament or the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe says 'We will expel Turkey', Turkey cannot continue this isolation. For example, England played a very important role in the conspiracy, but now England's intellectuals and trade unionists are the executors of the freedom campaign. The European community sees this conspiracy as a source of great sadness and shame for them."

 

MA / Esra Solin Dal