NEWS CENTER - Drawing attention that the main factor that will lift the isolation in Lausanne's centennial year is the unity of the Kurds, KNK Co-Chair Zeyneb Murad said: “We must lift this isolation. We must also lift the silence of the world against isolation."

 

The family and lawyers of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held under heavy isolation conditions for 24 years in the İmralı Type F High Security Prison, to which he was brought with an international conspiracy, continue to be hindered. Although 5 lawyers' visits were made in 2019, Abdullah Öcalan's meeting with his lawyers has been systematically prevented since July 27 2011. In addition to lawyers, applications of family and guardians are likewise either rejected or left unanswered. The family phone call from Abdullah Öcalan on March 25, 2021, which he was able to use for the second time during the 24 years he was held on Imralı Island, was also interrupted. Although 28 months have passed since this meeting, there has been no news from Abdullah Öcalan and other prisoners Hayri Konar, Veysi Aktaş and Hamili Yıldırım ın Imralı.

 

Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) Co-Chair Zeyneb Murad evaluated the Imrali isolation system, the silence of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), as well as international institutions.

 

THE SILENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL STATE

 

Expressing that the main purpose of the isolation is to destroy PKK Leader Öcalan's democratic nation project, Murad said: "The silence of international forces is also 'hypocrisy'. Expressing that silence also means approval of the isolation. The Turkish state cannot do anything without the support and consent of the Western states. The biggest actor in holding Mr. Öcalan in isolation are international states.”

 

'CPT IS THE PART OF THE SYSTEM'

 

Drawing attention to the role of the CPT in isolation, Murad underlined that this situation is also a part of the project of hegemonic powers.

 

'THE HEGEMONIC POWER CANNOT REJECT THE KURDS'

 

Emphasizing that the isolation and deepening of the war are at the same time Kurdish denial, Murad said: “The Kurds are no longer the old Kurds, they are the people who have a project and are an alternative to this chaos. The hegemonic powers can no longer deny the Kurds as before because the Kurds have international diplomacy. Today, whoever wants to make an alliance in the region or take it step by step, has to consult the Kurds. And this happened with the ideas and project of Mr. Öcalan. For this reason, what has been done in Imrali is actually the insistence that 'you cannot have status' to the Kurds a century ago. The isolation on Mr. Öcalan is an isolation of the Kurdish people. Mr. Öcalan's solution project is for the entire humanity of the world. In fact, Mr. Öcalan's captivity is the value of humanity. Thanks to Mr. Öcalan's project, the Kurds achieved many gains. In order to destroy these gains, they apply isolation in Imrali. The Kurds should take a stance against this. This project is also leading the women's struggle and revolution. It is based on a change against the dictatorships of the dominant systems. These systems and ideas pave the way for the democratization of Turkey, Iran and Iraq in particular."

 

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST THE ISOLATION

 

Stating that Abdullah Öcalan's solution project paved the way for international dialogue, Murad said: "The negative effects of the fragmentation among the Kurds at this point. The importance of Abdullah Öcalan's previous calls for national unity in order to end the fragmented situation among Kurds. If unity is not achieved, the Kurds will suffer greatly. For this reason, Mr. Öcalan's ideas are important for national unity. For this reason, all democratic forces should increase the struggle to break the isolation of Imrali. Everyone knows that the key to the Kurdish problem is in Imrali. The isolation system is being used against all Kurds. Everyone should see this and take responsibility. Serious steps should be taken in this regard. There has been a struggle against isolation for 24 years, but this struggle is not enough to end the isolation. Artists, intellectuals, and non-governmental organizations must unite and put up a stronger struggle in order to end the isolation and to increase the struggle. We must put pressure on states and put isolation on their agenda. The Kurds should also say 'enough is enough' to the isolation of Imrali with their actions wherever they are. We must develop diplomacy for the national convention. We must fight for the physical freedom of Öcalan. We must carry out mass actions and events that will bring our voice to the world.”

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut