In Halfeti district of Urfa in Northern Kurdistan, a "human chain for peace" has been broken by the police. A banner with the inscription "Peace not war, freedom not isolation" was judged illegal and confiscated by security forces. Participants in the action were previously forbidden to stay in the "4 April Park". The police justified the measure with an order from the governor. A short rally was held on the central Inönü Avenue.

The action, which was organized by the district association of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), was intended to draw attention to the aggravated prison conditions of Abdullah Öcalan on the Turkish prison island of Imrali on the occasion of the World Day of Peace on September 1. The Kurdish leader and his three fellow prisoners Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş are in total isolation. Surrounded by thousands of soldiers, they are held in a worldwide unique isolation prison in the Sea of Marmara. For Öcalan in particular, the isolation serves to sever his ties to the Kurdish society. The 72-year-old leader, who was deported from Kenya to Turkey more than two decades ago in violation of international law, is recognized by millions of Kurds as a political representative and is considered a key figure for a peaceful solution of the Kurdish question as well as the question of democracy in Turkey and the Middle East. For more than a year he has been completely isolated from the outside world again, and visits from lawyers and families are not allowed.

Isolation is the biggest obstacle on the way to peace

"The isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan is the greatest obstacle on the path to peace," Ömer Öcalan said at the rally. The HDP member of parliament, who is also a nephew of the PKK founder, had previously visited tradespeople in Halfeti with a delegation of local politicians from his party. The discussions focused primarily on trustee administration in Kurdish municipalities. Since the mayors of HDP were deposed, local self-administration has de facto ceased to exist.

60 million lira deficit in Halfeti’s budget

"I would like to remind you that the April 4 Park, which is under siege by security forces by order of the Governor, is being put up for sale by the District Governor Şeref Albayrak, who has been appointed by the government as trustee for Halfeti. As is well known, thanks to Albayrak, there is a 60 million lira deficit in the municipal budget. However, the police prefer to protect a park from us instead of doing their actual job of investigating corrupt officials," said Ömer Öcalan.

Arrests prevented

At the end of the event, Öcalan announced another "Human Chain for Peace" action, which will take place next Tuesday in the Ali Şelli Park in Central Urfa and called for participation. While the politician continued his speech, the police tried to take two HDP executives into custody after they had refused to hand over the criminalized banner. The police had to refrain from arresting them, as there were loud protests against the action.