Nothing has been learned about the situation of the Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held in İmralı Island Prison for 25 years, for 33 months.

Support for the international campaign launched on 10 October, "Freedom for Öcalan, a political solution to the Kurdish question", continues to grow. The campaign aims at breaking the isolation and ensuring the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan.

Isolation cannot be accepted

European Left Group member and former member of the European Parliament, Jürgen Klute, told ANF that the state of absolute lack of communication that Abdullah Öcalan is in is unacceptable and added that this isolation is a violation of both international law and human rights.

Klute said: "It is the minimum right that Abdullah Öcalan should have to be in contact with his family and lawyers. I think the conditions Öcalan is kept in are unacceptable. It is clear that this situation is against all international standards."

Öcalan showed that he is in favor of a political solution

Klute said that he is a supporter of the international campaign, and added: "First of all, I support this campaign because I believe that the conditions in which Öcalan is living should change. Öcalan's conditions are a shame for all international law and human rights. I also think is important to encourage and support the peace process in which Öcalan is involved."

Klute continued: "In 2013, Öcalan showed us that he was truly in favor of a peaceful process, switching from the policy of armed resistance to a path searching for a political solution. Therefore, I believe that Öcalan should be supported by international politicians and institutions such as the European Parliament, the United Nations and the Council of Europe. I think this is an important opportunity for ending the war against the Kurds and moving towards a peaceful solution."

Öcalan's freedom is important for the solution to the Kurdish question

Klute said that Abdullah Öcalan's freedom will form the basis for the solution to the Kurdish question. "Öcalan's freedom will be an important step towards finding a general, long-term and sustainable political solution ensuring permanent peace. Öcalan's freedom will also provide a basis for us to face various other challenges. I believe that this is necessary for everyone and that European politicians should take this seriously and put pressure on Turkey to stop this war, find a solution and ensure that Öcalan regains his freedom. I think this is necessary."

EU should not remain silent about Turkey's war crimes

Evaluating the attacks of the Turkish state against Rojava and the attitude of Europe against these attacks, Klute said: "Attacks against Rojava are a violation of international law. It is clear that attacks on civilian infrastructure and civilians are against the legal values we have. If we complain that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine, then we should also express our concerns about Turkey, which is committing similar war crimes in Rojava against the people living there, especially the Kurds. Turkey should be criticized on the point that it should respect international law and should be forced to stop its aggression against Rojava."