Hundreds of representatives of Italian political parties, NGOs and academics sent letters to European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and called on the organization to visit Imrali, where Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan is imprisoned since 1999.

Italians responded to an urgent call by the Kurdish community after several reports about Öcalan’s health situation emerged. Kurds demand establishment of a direct contact with the imprisoned Kurdish leader either by his lawyers or the family. They also demand CPT to act to ease concerns about Öcalan’s health and security.

CPT SHOULD VISIT IMRALI URGENTLY

In a letter to CPT, the mayor of Naples, Luigi Demagistris shared concerns of Kurdish people regarding the life of Öcalan.

“We believe that CPT should visit Imrali and have a meeting with Öcalan urgently. Öcalan is held under severe conditions for 18 years. We share concerns about his health. We are waiting for your answer on this matter” he said.

The mayor of Riace, Domenico Lucano raised similar demands and called on the authorities to go into action for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan.

Italian painter Riccardo Fortuna described Öcalan as “the sun of Kurdistan and a hope for all peoples” and said “With the light of the future (the name of one of his paintings) I wanted to express the need for Öcalan’s freedom because his freedom means freedom of Kurdish people and all peoples.”