Unite The Union Director: Utmost efforts must be taken to change Imrali policies  

The international director of Unite The Union, one of the largest trade unions in Britain and known for its statements and activities against the continuous torture regime against leader Abdullah Ocalan in Imrali 25 years ago, Simon Dobbins, spoke to ANHA's agency about the isolation imposed on leader Ocalan and their struggle against this isolation.

Simon Dobbins, who is also a member of the Britain-based Freedom for Ocalan Initiative, considered the isolation "unacceptable" and described the occupation attacks as "heinous."

"Isolation is an outrageous act and very inhuman."

Simon Dobbins indicated that the strict isolation imposed on the leader Abdullah Ocalan is an extremely heinous and inhumane act and stated that the United Nations adopts the "Nelson Mandela Rules" against torture and isolation, as well as similar international principles, but it does not apply them in Imrali.

Dobbins pointed out that the Turkish authorities must respect the rights of the leader Abdullah Ocalan and allow his family and lawyer to visit him immediately. He continued his speech, saying: "In addition to respecting the basic human rights of Mr. Ocalan, the Turkish authorities must return to the path of dialogue.  Negotiations must begin to find a way to peace, and it must be able to play its role in achieving Mr. Ocalan's physical freedom in order to establish peace in Turkey and the region."

Attacks are not limited to Imrali

Simon Dobbins made it clear that the attacks are not limited to Imrali, and continued his speech, saying: "There is an attack on civil society, which is fighting for democracy, equality and peace, and on all Kurds, whether inside or outside the country."

Dobbins indicated that this attack led by Erdogan is part of his strategy to form an alliance of religious and national hardliners and said, "The Turkish state seeks to preserve its unstable alliance and divert people's attention to other matters, and the violent attack on Mr. Ocalan must be seen It is part of Erdogan's strategy to maintain his power, and the realization that the fact that he is intensifying this attack day after day is nothing but evidence of how weak and unstable Erdogan and his government are."

They make fun of their promises.

Simon Dobbins commented on the international reticence about isolation and said: "The international community remains shamefully silent and reticent to take a position on the situation on Imrali Island. Allowing the Turkish state, a NATO member as well as the Council of Europe, to treat one of its detainees in this way is like mocking their human rights promises."

"Silence about what is happening in Imrali and the occupation attacks is a heinous act."

Simon Dobbins described the Turkish occupation attacks on Bakur, Başûr and Rojava Kurdistan, as well as the international silence regarding these attacks, as "heinous" work, and asked this question: "As long as they stand against the illegal Russian occupation of Ukraine, why then does no international opposition speak in a firm tone about occupation and aggression?" "The illegal Turkish invasion of North and East Syria, why is there no international condemnation of the military attacks in northern Iraq, and why is the ISIS brutality practiced by the Turkish state towards its people not firmly condemned in the international arena?"

Dobbins continued his speech, saying, "Unfortunately, it is not surprising that the international community remains silent about the torture and bad practices affecting Mr. Ocalan and the rest of the detainees in Imrali prison, as long as there is silence and criminal cooperation in such cases."

"We will do everything we can to change this situation."

Regarding union activities and plans seeking to achieve the physical freedom of leader Abdullah Ocalan, Dobbins said: "There are many unions that fully support the 'Freedom for Ocalan' campaign in Britain and they realize that Ocalan's freedom is important for establishing lasting peace in Turkey and the wider region. All supporters are considered the campaign in Britain and at the international level is that the intensity of the attacks on Ocalan is part of a broader attack on the Kurds and the advocates of peace, democracy, equality and international peace.

Undoubtedly, everyone supports the call to lift Mr. Ocalan's isolation, so that at least basic human rights are not violated and that members of his family and his legal team are able to visit him again. We do not have any information now about the health status of Mr. Ocalan and whether he is really alive? This is certainly unacceptable, so we are doing and will do whatever it takes to change this situation. We also continue our meetings to discuss the situation of Mr. Ocalan in our trade union conferences, and we also keep the issue of Mr. Ocalan on our agenda, and we demand that parliamentarians put it on their agenda as well, and more support must be provided for this issue in Europe and the world."

"Mr. Ocalan's physical freedom is the first condition for peace"

Simon Dobbins referred to the importance of peace and stability in Turkey and the Middle East for all, pointing out that the leader Abdullah Ocalan's physical freedom is the first condition for that. He continued his speech, saying, "Our movement has taken many measures to establish the peace process, support the demands to end the attacks on Mr. Ocalan, obtain information about him again, and release him, but we can do more to achieve gains and pressure internationally. We must mobilize governments and international institutions to put pressure on the Turkish authorities and force them to ending isolation, and for this we must do our best to launch a broader and stronger international campaign."

T/ Satt.

ANHA