For years, Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan held alone in the Imrali island has been under complete isolation. He has no contact with the outside world. His lawyers can’t meet with him since 2011. Kurdish institutions in Europe had launched the “Freedom for Öcalan” campaign a while ago to protest this isolation.

Hunger strikes in many European cities were launched on Monday as part of this, with the center being Strasbourg. The only demands the Kurds put forth is the lifting of the isolation imposed upon Öcalan and Öcalan’s freedom.

KONGRA-GEL Co-chair Remzi Kartal spoke to the ANF on the matter and, stressing that Öcalan is a red line for them, demanded the immediate lifting of the isolation. He said he doesn’t think the recent statements by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) are sincere, and criticized the institution.

Remzi Kartal called on Kurds throughout the world to grow the demonstrations supporting Öcalan.

“THE CPT IS ACTING IN LINE WITH TURKEY’S INTERESTS”

KONGRA-GEL Co-chair Remzi Kartal stated that they haven’t heard from Öcalan in 2 years and said: “The Turkish state is imposing an isolation on Leader Apo as part of their total war policies against the gains of Kurdish people everywhere. This is one of their fundamental goals. That is why the Kurdish people are concerned for the life, health and security of Leader Apo.”

Kartal also spoke about the latest statement by the CPT about Imrali based on their visit two years ago and said: “The CPT issued a statement recently and said they are aware of Öcalan’s situation. As you know, a CPT committee recently came to Turkey and visited some prisons, but they only met with government officials about Leader Apo. They didn’t go to Imrali, or speak with Leader Apo. We as the Kurdish Freedom Movement look at these events and see that the CPT acts in accordance with the interests of the Turkish state. Their committee visited Imrali two years ago, but they only just recently announced the report. Because that was what the Turkish state wanted. That is why for us, their statements and words have no legitimacy or believability.”

“TURKISH STATE HAS SPECIAL POLICIES AGAINST LEADER APO”

Remzi Kartal stated that the Kurdish people can make certain gains through struggle and added: “As the Kurdish people and the movement, we must see this reality and increase the resistance and the struggle to support Leader Apo. The Turkish state implements policies against Kurdish gains in Afrin and all four parts of Kurdistan, and they do the same for Leader Apo. We must know this reality and continue with our struggle with that knowledge. We must engage in lobbying activity for the European and global public and send the CPT to Imrali. Because the CPT has a mission to protect human rights and prevent torture. They must fulfill this.”

“FROM JAPAN TO CANADA, OUR PEOPLE SHOULD BE HOLDING DEMONSTRATIONS”

KONGRA-GEL Co-chair said there are demonstrations throughout the world for the freedom of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan and made the following call: “In this process, let’s participate in all demonstrations for Leader Apo en masse. The struggle to support Leader Apo must be strong. Let’s participate in demonstrations in countries like Canada, Australia, Latin America, Japan, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and former Soviet territory, wherever our people live, and increase the support for Leader Apo. We have faith that our people will continue to support Leader Apo as they have done in the past.