There has been no news from Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan for 42 months. People all over the world continue to speak out against this absolute state of lawlessness. 61 French figures, including politicians, artists, academics and human rights defenders, sent a letter to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) about the issue. One of the signatories of the letter, French Senator Anne Souyris, spoke to ANF.

‘Isolation in Imrali must be ended immediately’

Senator Anne Souyris said: "We signed this letter to request the CPT to visit Mr. Öcalan in prison, check his health and conditions of detention and ensure that his fundamental rights are respected. The aim was also to put pressure to ensure that Mr. Öcalan has access to his lawyers."

‘Isolation has turned into torture for both Öcalan and his family’

Senator Souyris added: "Isolation is definitely a form of torture and a situation that does not fit into democracy. Isolation is torture for Mr. Öcalan as well as for his family. Isolation in Imrali also creates unbearable pressure on citizens, because any citizen can be threatened with such an unjust and unacceptable arrest. These conditions are a situation that must be countered. We must fight against this isolation because we have the chance to express ourselves differently in Europe."

'Fighting needs to be on an international level'

Senator Souyris continued: "The conditions Abdullah Öcalan is in are truly an important signal for us in terms of democracy. I see that Turkey wants to become a member of the European Union. We can think about this the day Turkey becomes democratic.

Places of detention are places protected by law and democracy, where fundamental rights are respected. But we cannot hear from Mr. Öcalan, so we can see that his rights are not respected. We don’t know whether he is in good or bad health, we do not even know whether he is alive, because no one can hear from him. Not even his family...

This is an unacceptable situation. That is why it is absolutely essential that we find out what is going on. Moreover, I know that there are three other prisoners with Mr. Öcalan, and they are held in similar conditions. This must not be allowed to happen. This isolation is something that we must monitor and fight against at an international level. We must put pressure on Turkey to end it and prevent it from happening again."

'Europe needs political courage'

Senator Souyris, said: "I think that we are acting too slowly both to change Mr. Öcalan’s situation and to stop the war waged against the Kurdish people. There are geopolitical concerns and interests that are pushing European institutions into silence. However, in recent years, we have had a few ministers who have supported the rights of the Kurds, especially those in North Kurdistan. Therefore, while receiving official support from French ministers as well as other European ministers, we cannot remain silent in the face of what is happening. Similarly, we cannot deport Kurds who are threatened by the Turkish state, knowing that their rights are not respected in Turkey. This is what we are facing in Europe. You cannot support rights and remain silent at the same time when they are violated. I think Europe needs political courage. This is the duty of Europe and France."

'Sanctions may be imposed on Turkey'

Souyris continued: "It is clear that Mr. Erdoğan has good relations with France and Europe, therefore no one wants to resort to military action, pressure or economic sanctions. However, economic sanctions can be applied without resorting to military action. However, no one dares to do so at the moment. What I mean is that we have the tools to do this. Mr. Erdoğan needs Europe, he needs our support, and we can make this support conditional. Europe has the tools to apply pressure. Therefore, we must do this."

Souyris said that "in the last elections, Mr. Erdoğan tried to appoint trustees instead of democratically elected Kurdish mayors, which poses a real problem for democracy. Therefore, we have a regime that looks like democracy but in reality has strong hints of autocracy. We need to get rid of this regime, both because of its institutional structure and its lack of respect for minority rights. This is very clear."

'Political dialogue and negotiation are a must'

The French Senator continued: "Mr. Öcalan believes that he can lead a dialogue with Turkey about a solution to the Kurdish question. I believe that dialogue must take place. It is unacceptable for the rights of the Kurdish population in Turkey to continue to be denied as they are today. There is no dialogue for the solution to the question and this is unacceptable. At some point, international law and the right of peoples to self-determination should be recognized in all countries. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Turkey.

The important thing is to reach a dialogue. Whether under the name of the PKK or otherwise, the most important thing is to sit at the negotiation table. Perhaps Europe can play a facilitating role in this dialogue instead of remaining passive as it is now. Europe can also ensure that the Committee for the Prevention of Torture visits Mr. Öcalan, recommends that certain measures be taken and confirms that his fundamental rights and those of other prisoners held in solitary confinement are respected.

This could be the beginning of a new dialogue with Mr. Öcalan and other Kurdish militants and citizens. Europe protects fundamental rights and can even act as a third party. The European Parliament can make decisions to send delegations to meet with Mr. Erdoğan and consider imposing sanctions if nothing changes."