Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan has been completely isolated from the outside world since August last year. Three days ago, the Turkish Interior Minister announced that a fire had broken out on the prison island of Imrali. The Asrın Law Office, representing Öcalan and his three fellow prisoners, demanded immediate access to the island, so far in vain. Nothing is known about the condition of the prisoners. Neither lawyers nor relatives can contact them in any way.

Arab women in the Shehba Canton of northern Syria stressed that demonstrations demanding to hear from Öcalan should continue without interruption.

Condemning the Turkish state’s inhuman practices against Öcalan, Emani Abdullah said; “We demand a clarification on the situation of the Leader after the fire. We, Arab people, will not remain silent and will continue our actions until Leader Öcalan is freed. We call on human rights organisations to enable Öcalan’s meeting with his lawyers.”

Hêvin Elo, according to whom the fire on Imralı was started deliberately, said; “The Turkish state seeks to measure the reaction of the people and our close relations with our Kurdish brothers and sisters. We will remain united until Öcalan gets out of Imralı.”

Rifah Elûş also vowed to continue with their actions for Öcalan.