As part of the campaign ‘Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan – A Political Solution to the Kurdish Question’, there will be a 5-day mass sit-in protest in front of the Council of Europe and the CPT (the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment) from the 15th to 19th of April 2024 in Strasbourg, France.
Both the Council of Europe and the CPT are responsible for monitoring the detention conditions of the Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan. And thus they have a legal obligation to ensure that signatory states, in this case Turkey, comply with international legal standards. In Öcalan’s case, however, these organisations have not fulfilled their solemn obligations. For instance, the CPT recently visited Turkey from the 13th to 22nd of February, and during this time their delegation must have been aware that the 15th of February was the 25th anniversary of Öcalan’s abduction; yet, the organisation inexplicably refused to visit Imrali Prison Island or check on and confirm Öcalan’s well-being.
On the 25th anniversary of his abduction, millions of Kurds and their friends in Europe, Kurdistan, Turkey, North and East Syria, the USA, Canada, India, Australia, Russia, Armenia, and elsewhere, demanded Öcalan’s freedom through demonstrations and protest rallies. During these rallies, the people called on the Council of Europe and CPT to abide by international law and not sacrifice justice for geopolitical interests. These massive protests showed that millions of Kurds and their internationalist friends have not forgotten about Öcalan and that they insist on his freedom.
Imrali Island Prison is a microcosm and reproduction of the regional and international colonialism that Kurdistan has been subjected to for over a century. For his part, Öcalan succeeded in using theory and practice to mobilise and organise the Kurds for an anti-colonial liberation struggle. This is seen as an unforgiveable crime, and he is punished inhumanely.
The Council of Europe has many political, diplomatic, and legal means of forcing Turkey to respect international law and grant Öcalan his inalienable human rights. They displayed this ability when they unhesitatingly removed Russia’s Council membership within a short time. However, Turkey and the Erdoğan regime are inexcusably given a free pass.
Through our sit-in protest we hope to awaken the Council of Europe to fulfill their sacred duty and ensure that member states do not carry out acts of torture. We also want to call on the CPT to visit Öcalan urgently, as the authoritarian regime under Erdoğan has put him in a state of ‘incommunicado’ detention that amounts to extreme solitary confinement from the outside world, including from his family and lawyers.
Since 25th March 2021, Öcalan has been hidden from the entire world, with no information on his health or safety. This uncertainty is an intentional policy by Turkey, desinged to cause psychological pressure to the Kurdish people and punish them collectively for following Öcalan’s perspectives for freedom.
We continue to appreciate your solidarity and ask you to stand (or in this case, sit) with us yet again. Öcalan’s freedom can make possible the solution of the Kurdish question; he is the indispensable figure who can negotiate a final peace agreement with the Turkish state. But for him to do so, Turkey must allow him to speak with the outside world.
If you would like to join us in April, we will provide accommodation and food, However, because of the large number of participants, we are unfortunately unable to cover travel costs.
We hope to see you from April 15-19 in Strasbourg.
In solidarity
Vigil for Öcalan
For more information please contact us on:
sit-in4oecalan@riseup.net