Kongra Star sends letter to international istitutions about Öcalan

Kongra Star sent a letter to the UN, CPT and the Council of Europe regarding the allegations made on some social media accounts regarding Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan. Kongra Star called on the authorities to fulfil their responsibilities.

After news regarding the health of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan were posted on social media, Kongra Star sent a letter to the UN, CPT and the Council of Europe. The letter said: “We are writing this letter because of our serious concerns about the health condition of Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan. Mr. Öcalan has been held in İmralı High Security F-Type Closed Prison since 15 February 1999 in a regime of total isolation. Until 2009 he was also the only prisoner on the island. In 2009, 5 more prisoners were sent to İmralı.

Mr. Öcalan has been in isolation since the day he was arrested. Lawyer and family visits have been constantly banned. He last met with his lawyers on 7 August 2019. No information has been received about the other 5 prisoners.”

The letter added: “In the past, the Turkish state had provocations against Leader Abdullah Öcalan. In 2007, there were rumours that he had been poisoned. In 2020, a fire broke out in Imrali prison. The public was worried about Leader Öcalan's situation. Leader Öcalan's health is the health of all Kurdish people. Kurds cannot live in peace as long as there is no reliable information about Leader Öcalan.

The approach towards Leader Öcalan and 5 other prisoners is unacceptable. Mr. Öcalan has an important role to play for the solution of problems in Turkey and the Middle East. The silence of the international community against this isolation shows that they are partners in crime.”

Kongra Star called on the international institutions to fulfil their responsibilities.

Kongra Star listed its demands as follows:

“- Communication channels should be established with Leader Öcalan. Isolation must end.

- We urgently want information about Öcalan's health.

- Authorities must fulfil their duties and responsibilities.

- Visits to Imralı Prison should be granted and legal rights to be given.

- The politics of isolation must end."