Hasan Basri Fırat, a former mayor of Hınıs Municipality, said that the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan is the most concrete proof that the Turkish state does not and will not treat the Kurds fairly and legally in any area of life.

Abdullah Demirbaş, a former mayor of Sur Municipality, told ANF that the institutional mission and seriousness of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) is being questioned when it comes to the isolation of Kurdish leader Öcalan. “If the CPT wants to prove itself as a serious institution, it must release a serious and satisfying statement about its last visit to the İmralı prison. The CPT must remove the ambiguity it has created,” he said.

ISOLATION IS A POLICY OF WAR

Remarking that the Turkish state is using the isolation of Öcalan as a war policy, Demirbaş continued: “Turkey deepens the war by preventing the views and thoughts of Mr. Öcalan from reaching the public. The isolation should also be seen as an implementation of war policies in the Middle East. Mr. Öcalan's ideas, thoughts and political discourses are important for the resolution of the conflicts in the Middle East. He widely gains recognition. Mr. Öcalan is the guarantor of peace. He is a political actor to whom the Kurdish people attach great importance. He is a leader who has an influence not only on his organization but also on all Kurds. The isolation of Mr. Öcalan is tantamount to the isolation of the Kurdish people. The Isolation must be lifted immediately for stability and peace.”

ISOLATION SHOULD BE PROTESTED EVERYWHERE

Demirbaş underlined that the Kurdish people, their friends and all parties that favour peace should show their democratic reactions on every platform.

ISOLATION REVEALS THE MALTREATMENT OF KURDS

Hasan Basri Fırat pointed out that the isolation is the most concrete proof that the Turkish state does not and will not treat the Kurds fairly and legally in any area of life. He said that it is important for the Kurdish people to read this isolation correctly and develop an attitude accordingly. “Öcalan is resisting to protect the rights of the Kurdish people. If he did not resist, he would be under favorable conditions today. Seeking to destroy the achievements of the Kurds, the Turkish state does not respect its own laws and the universal rules of law to which it is bound. The politics of Mr. Öcalan has been recognized by a large proportion of the Kurds.

KURDS SHOULD EMBRACE THEIR LEADER

Mr. Öcalan is an important leader for the Kurds. He is a leader who is recognized and respected. Sheikh Seîd, Seid Riza and Qazi Muhammed, who had led the Kurdish uprisings in the past, were murdered. Then massacres were carried out against the people. For the Kurds, this is a historical pattern. First, their leaders are murdered and then their people. It is the very same policy that is being applied to Mr. Öcalan. The isolation imposed on him is gradually being applied to all Kurdish people. All Kurdish achievements are being targeted. These are all interconnected. The Kurdish people should take lessons from history and embrace their own leader. We must frustrate this dirty policy of the Turkish state. All our people should protest the isolation of Mr. Öcalan everywhere and under any circumstances.”