The vigil to demand the freedom of Kurdish leader Öcalan in Strasbourg, the longest action of the Kurds in Europe, is going to mark its 11th year on June 25.

Friends of the Kurdish people have today started to distribute leaflets outside the Council of Europe to mark the 10th anniversary of the vigil that started in 2012.

The leaflet stated that the Kurdish leader has been subjected to systematic isolation for more than 23 years and that all human rights which are norms within international law have been violated.

The leaflet included the following information:

“Prolonged isolation is defined as torture according to the UN as well as the European Convention on Human Rights. Even though the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) have been reporting for the last two years that the conditions at Imrali should not be accepted and be changed, the isolation of the Kurdish leader has been further aggravated. Last year’s disciplinary punishments against him reveal the Turkish state's disregard for international law. However, the Council of Europe has the opportunity to stop violations of the Turkish state through penal sanctions, and it also has a responsibility to do so.”

The friends of the Kurdish people will distribute leaflets to lawmakers during the sessions of the PACE this week, calling for the Council of Europe to fulfil its responsibility.

On June 23, friends of the Kurdish people, together with the lawmakers of the Council of Europe, will hold a press conference for Kurdish leader Öcalan. A freedom vigil will also be carried out for Öcalan for a week.