The Kurdish umbrella organization in Europe (KCDK-E) has launched an urgent appeal and calls for urgent action for Abdullah Öcalan. The background is worrying news about the health situation of the PKK founder, who has been held as a political hostage on the Turkish prison island of Imrali since 1999. Rumors have been circulating on social networks since the weekend that Öcalan had died in prison. "In light of this situation, it is imperative to obtain clarity on this issue and to grant Öcalan's lawyers and relatives their fundamental right to receive information about his health situation," KCDK-E said.

The statement continued, “The Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's denial is in no way trustworthy. Both to end the speculations and discussions and to bring the truth to light, it is necessary to establish immediate contact with Abdullah Öcalan and his three fellow prisoners Veysi Aktaş, Ömer Hayri Konar and Hamili Yıldırım. Until this happens, the Kurdish people should not leave the streets."

Abdullah Öcalan is our red line

The KCDK-E recalled that Öcalan has been completely isolated from his outside world again for quite some time and that a system beyond the limits of the applicable law is being applied on Imrali. In view of this, the umbrella organization criticized the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), which inspected prisons and detention centers in Turkey in January, but did not visit the prison island of Imrali. The CPT is the only institution with the power to visit Abdullah Öcalan. "We condemn the isolation system applied on Imrali and call on all responsible organizations and bodies to fulfill their collective responsibility and intervene to ensure that all necessary information regarding the situation on Imrali is obtained."

Especially in light of the Turkish army's military defeat in the guerrilla area of Gare, the rumor of the Kurdish leader's alleged death is a cause for serious concern, said KCDK-E and added; "Abdullah Öcalan is our red line. Efforts to break the Kurdish people's liberation struggle and isolate the will manifested in the person of Öcalan will not succeed. The Kurdish people will win, Öcalan will be released."