After the earthquake in Gemlik, off the prison island of Imrali, the Kurdish European umbrella organization KCDK-E expressed greatest concern about the situation of the Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan.
On Monday, a 5.1-magnitude sea and earthquake occurred in Gemlik. This was followed by 13 aftershocks with strengths of up to 4.5 on the Richter scale. The island of Imrali, where the Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan is held in total isolation, is in the area of the earthquake. The KCDK-E, the umbrella organization of the Kurdish diaspora in Europe, said in a statement: “There is no news from Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan]. He is being held captive by the fascist AKP-MHP regime under strict isolation on Imrali. Not a single legal pretext can be produced for this isolation. After 24 years of difficult isolation conditions, Rêber Apo suffers from various chronic illnesses. There has been no sign of life from Imrali for almost three years. The earthquake has increased our concerns.”
The KCDK-E criticized the fact that no visits from relatives and lawyers are permitted and that no written or telephone communication is possible, and called on the international institutions to fulfil their responsibilities and do something about this isolation, which contradicts every legal principle.
The association condemned the authorities for not providing any information about the situation on Imrali after the earthquake: “Since there is no sign of Rêber Apo's life and he is not allowed to receive his lawyers or his family, we are increasingly worried about his life. For the Kurdish people, Rêber Apo is the red line. The people see him as their future and demand immediate visits in Imrali to be allowed. It is particularly urgent to make it possible for lawyers and family visits. The fascist isolation and torture system that has been imposed on him for years must end immediately.”
In view of Öcalan's isolation, the KCDK-E called for broad resistance: “It is our task to resist this system of isolation and to end the uncertainty about his life. All our institutions, our people and our friends must mobilize to break the isolation The fight for the freedom of Rêber Apo will grow.”
The KCDK-E said: “As KCDK-E, on the occasion of the earthquake, we once again demand to be informed about the life and condition of Rêber Apo and we call for immediate protests.”
