International Initiative
Freedom for Ocalan Peace in Kurdistan
P.O. Box 100511, D-50445 Koeln
E-Mail: info@freedom-for-ocalan.com
Url: www.freedom-for-ocalan.com
Cologne, 19 January 2005
INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE BRIEFINGS:
A Touchstone For Europe
In an interview with the Dicle News Agency Ocalan lawyers Mark
Muller and Tim Otty talked about their recent visit to Imrali island
after one and a half years where there client is held prisoner since
1999. In particular they criticised the conditions Abdullah Ocalan
has been subjected to for four years now which were clearly in violation
of the European Convention for Human Rights. However, notwithstanding
these harsh circumstances and despite his relatives continuous
worries for his health Mr. Ocalan was still full of life and activity.
According to Mark Muller, the European Convention guaranteed every
prisoner his right to see his family, his lawyers, and granted an
appropriate time for walks or exercises in the yard, as well as
access to public media. Mr Ocalan, they said, only wanted to be
treated like any other prisoner.
His lawyers have recently appealed a decision by the European Court
for Human Rights in order to improve the prison conditions. Moreover,
they demanded that the EU should recognise Mr. Ocalans political
role and should also require Turkey to do the same.
During the past five years Abdullah Ocalans statements have
always been concerned with peace and a peaceful and democratic settlement
of the conflict while inviting Europe to recognise the Kurds
fundamental culture rights.
The lawyers added that the Ocalan case had to be treated like the
Leyla Zana case which had been made a test case by the Europeans
in terms of human rights, prisoner rights and civil liberties. On
the other hand, this was also a test case as to whether Turkey had
already reached a state of development where it could be admitted
into the EU.
Finally, the lawyers demanded that Mr. Ocalan should be transferred
into a prison where he would be able to see other prisoners. They
expressed their confidence that this might become possible within
the next two years. Turkey should observe its own laws and really
implement all the reforms and new laws that had been enacted in
the past years.
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