ISTANBUL - "For the democratic process to reach its full potential, the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Öcalan and all other political prisoners whose human rights have been violated is imperative," said the delegation from Europe that came to Istanbul yesterday to visit Abdullah Öcalan.

 

A delegation of 39 people from different European countries arrived in Istanbul yesterday as part of the "I want to visit Öcalan" campaign. The delegation, including journalists, writers, academics, trade unionists, parliamentarians and lawyers, held a "Round Table" meeting at a hotel in Taksim. 

 

Many people including Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) Co-Spokesperson Meral Danış Beştaş, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Keskin Bayındır and Sebahat Tuncel from the Free Women's Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA) attended the meeting. A joint text was read after the meeting. Ferhat Koçak, Federal Deputy of the Left Party in Germany, read the joint text in Turkish, while Eulalia Reguant Cura, Foreign Relations Officer of the CUP in Catalonia, read it in English.

 

The statement reads: 

 

"We stand in solidarity with the Kurdish people in the face of the systematic repression of their rights and their continued exclusion from the democratic process in Turkey. We call on the Turkish authorities to take concrete steps toward engaging in genuine, constructive dialogue and peace negotiations with all sectors of the Kurdish community. We reiterate our call to all progressive movements, parties and all peoples in Turkey to work towards the success of this process.  Only through such engagement can durable and lasting change be achieved, paving the way for a truly democratic Turkey.

 

Throughout this process, Turkey must uphold its international obligations to respect, fulfill, and protect the human rights of all people within its borders.

In an international context increasingly marked by hostility and aggression, there remains a historic opportunity to resolve the Kurdish conflict through dialogue and negotiation—fundamental pillars of any democratic society. While the Middle East is in flames and too many countries compete in an unrestrained arms race, Mr Öcalan is one of the strongest voices in the region talking about peace and disarmament.

 

'MR OCALAN HAS ISSUED A COURAGEOUS CALL'

 

Mr. Öcalan has issued a courageous and timely call to disarm and dissolve, in favor of a peaceful and democratic resolution to a conflict that has endured for over forty years.We recognize Mr. Öcalan’s vision of democratic confederalism and his broader proposal for the Middle East as a model not only for Turkey but for the entire region. For the democratic process to reach its full potential, the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Öcalan and all other political prisoners whose human rights have been violated is imperative. Their continued imprisonment raises serious concerns. It is essential that their human rights are respected while in detention. In particular, the ongoing and unlawful deprivation of Mr. Öcalan’s fundamental rights—after 26 years of isolation in the island prison of Imrali—stands in violation of both international and national legal standards.

 

As an international group of activists, academics, politicians, and human rights experts, we urge the Turkish government to meet its obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law. We appeal to the government of Turkey to act in accordance with the principles of justice, democracy, and peace. We will continue to monitor the steps taken by the government, and we express our hope for a genuine transition toward a fully democratic and inclusive society in Turkey."