Veteran human rights lawyer Margaret Owen said that the Western bloc that remained silent and even supported Erdogan, a war criminal who used chemical weapons while taking a stand against Russia and China, is hypocritical. Criticizing the British government, Owen said she would continue to fight against it.

Speaking to ANF, human rights lawyer Margaret Owen said that the isolation of Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan amounted to torture and was completely unlawful, and said that universal legal principles and humanitarian norms, including UN conventions, Mandela Rules, ECHR decisions, were violated. Reminding that no news has been received from Abdullah Öcalan since 25 March 2021, and applications for lawyers and family opinions have been rejected, Owen said: “We do not know how he is and what his state of health is. For 18 months we had no news from him. He is the leader of the Kurdish people, one of the strongest people in the history of humanity. He is someone who produces, writes and tries to solve problems even in prison. He is the key actor in resolving the ongoing terrible conflict.”

Öcalan must be released

Lawyer Owen, who is also a founding member of GAPS-UK (Gender Action in Peace and Security), patron of Peace in Kurdistan Campaign and adviser on women's and children's rights at the Kurdish Human Rights Project (KHRP), said: Öcalan must be released. All human rights institutions say this. In a real sense, the law requires the release of Abdullah Öcalan and the removal of the PKK from the list of 'terrorist organisations'.

The West is hypocritical

Calling on the British government to stop arms sales to Turkey, Owen drew attention to the fact that the Turkish state used chemical weapons in Medya Defense Areas and said: “Attacks are carried out in Shengal, where the Yazidis live, and in Maxmur, where refugees live. Despite this, there is an international silence. This is complete hypocrisy. The attitude of the British government is hypercritical. While taking a stand against Russia and China, the war criminal Erdogan, who uses chemical weapons, is actually supported. Some parts of the drones used by Turkey are made in England. As a human rights defender, I criticize my government for supporting this state terrorism.”

Rojava is a model

Noting that Abdullah Öcalan was fighting to liberate not only the Kurds but all the people in that region, Owen emphasized that the democratic confederalism model, in which women and gender equality is at the center, is being implemented in Rojava.

Owen added: “This model is the work of Abdullah Öcalan. It is a model not only for Syria and the Middle East, but for the whole world. I am 90 years old, I will continue to demand freedom and justice for the Kurds. I hope to be in Rojava soon.”