EUTCC Head calls on Kurdish political leaders to release leader

Karian Therese Westerheim, who has been the Chair of the European Union-Turkey Civic Committee (EUTCC) since its founding, explained in an interview with ANHA agency that the Kurdish movement, as well as NGOs and human rights organizations around the world, are already engaged in working to highlight the status of the leader. Abdullah Ocalan, and called on Kurdish political leaders and representatives to engage to a greater degree than was the case in the past, in diplomatic efforts, at the national and international levels, to address the situation and seek to improve it.

Leader Abdullah Ocalan has been detained alone in Imrali for years. What does it mean for a person to be alone in a cell without any contact, psychologically?

A “political prisoner” is a person or individual who has been imprisoned because of his or her political ideology or actions taken to express his or her ideological beliefs. Imprisonment has been used as a means of combating political violence or dissent, to express state power over those who engage in such activity. However, there are many cases of political prisoners who, in society, did not participate in violent campaigns. These individuals may have participated in peaceful protests – “prisoners of conscience” – or may have been wrongly imprisoned. One example is the hundreds of HDP politicians, lawyers, journalists and others who were arrested and convicted under false pretenses due to their links to the PKK. All of these are, by definition, political prisoners. The most famous political prisoner in Turkey, as well as internationally, is Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party and its defense forces and the spearhead of the political liberation movement that changed the lives of millions of Kurds and that managed to inspire people, organizations and movements beyond Turkey's borders.

February 15 marks 25 years since Ocalan was detained on Imrali Island. For the last three years, Ocalan has been in complete isolation without allowing any visits from his family or his lawyer. This is truly exceptional, even in an international context, especially since Turkey is a member of NATO and is also seeking European Union membership. All conventions and standards are being ignored, whether by NATO, the European Union, or the United Nations when it comes to mass arrests and treatment of political dissidents in Turkey. From a political point of view, this is shocking, but what does this mean for the prisoner's mental health and psychological well-being?

According to Wylie, Zhou, and Hunt (2015), prisoners' experiences in political prison are well documented in the literature, with prisoners reporting frequent exposure to traumatic events, including ill-treatment and psychological and physical torture. Long-term isolation, especially in the context of political imprisonment, can have profound and severe psychological effects on individuals. The psychological impact varies depending on factors such as the duration of isolation, the conditions of confinement, the nature of the individual, and the nature of political persecution. In a descriptive review study, these researchers found that the long-term psychological effects associated with isolated political prisoners included to varying degrees among other things; Such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and somatic complaints.

Merker and Schützoll (1997) suggest much of the same, that political imprisonment combined with threats to life and psychological and physical safety results in severe stress that may generally lead to a diagnosis of PTSD (p. 440), which itself has many side effects.

However, none of them can be completely generalised, each political prisoner will always relate to and react to solitary confinement and ill-treatment differently. Others are more resistant, perhaps due to surrounding factors, such as visits from family and lawyers, which provide stronger protection against physical and psychological pressure and torture. Resilience relates, among other things, to the certainty or hope of support from outside, from the family, the social and political network, or the party or movement to which the person belongs. Or the fact that there are lawyers working on the person's case. Such factors contribute to strengthening the prisoner's resistance and survival instinct. However, the reality is that expectations and hopes for external support were severely challenged during the three years in which Ocalan was denied access to the outside world. Isolation from the outside world and everything that concerns a person has serious consequences. To what extent it affected Ocalan, we do not know whether contact with him was blocked or not. We can only hope that he maintains the earlier certainty that thousands of people outside prison are working for him.

What are the effects of isolation on a person? What are its effects on his body?

I would like to refer to a recent report from Kurd Akkad entitled “Imrali Island Prison Conditions in the Context of Health” written and edited by Dr. Dersem Dagdiveren.

The report stated: “Abdullah Ocalan has been imprisoned in the Imrali Island prison since his arrest in 1999. The conditions on the island are unacceptable, especially in the health context. In addition to the climatic conditions, the political conditions pose a major health risk. The right to health safety in all areas related to Health is non-existent. There is also no access to adequate medical care. The Turkish government is ignoring the demands of the CPT in this regard. Given the political importance of Abdullah Ocalan, the situation is very critical. Therefore, urgent intervention is required. Mr. Ocalan must have unlimited access "Restrained to medical care. Solitary confinement must be ended immediately" (p. 2).

The report also refers to researchers and specialists in this field who confirm that prisoners constitute a particularly vulnerable group in the context of health.

In this regard, Professor Dr. Grundwald, from Leipzig University Hospital, says, “It is certain that social isolation and lack of physical contact with others for a longer period of time can lead to related diseases on the psychological and physical level. It can be stress, anxiety, depression, and an increase in suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts.” as a result".

Ocalan has been without any human contact for more than three years. It is impossible to imagine how he feels and what strength and human capabilities one must have in order not to collapse physically and mentally. Specialists emphasize that lonely people get sick more often, have weakened immune systems, are at risk for cardiovascular disorders, diabetes and depression, and against this background it is reasonable to believe that “social isolation kills” (p. 13).

It is important to note that the impact of isolation on political prisoners is a complex and multifaceted issue, and efforts to address the psychological well-being of individuals exposed to such conditions should include comprehensive support, including mental health services, and good management of resources within the prison to promote prisoner health and well-being. Social and psychological. The fact is that these conditions are not met by the prison service in Imrali, which is also what reports from the European Committee against Torture have concluded.

What keeps Leader Abdullah Ocalan standing despite this difficult situation? What is the scientific expression for that?

As mentioned above, long-term isolation, especially in the context of political imprisonment, can have profound and severe psychological effects on individuals. In addition, chronic stress and the psychological impact of isolation can have serious consequences on physical health. The psychological impact varies depending on factors such as the duration of isolation, conditions of confinement, individual resilience, and the nature of political persecution. The crucial question that arises is how, despite isolation and complete lack of contact with the outside world, especially from his supporters and ideological and political partners, was Abdullah Ocalan able to maintain a significant degree of his intellectual ability?

But it is also a fact that, due to his three-year isolation, no one outside Imrali really knows what his condition is like, or what physical and mental health condition he is in and how to deal with it. As outsiders, we can only assume that Ocalan is still alive, and that he is continuing his activities, but in general we can only imagine what motivates him to continue.

Knowing that people outside are watching what is happening in Imrali can provide strength and encouragement that makes you feel less alone. Three years ago, lawyers and others visited him regularly, if not often, to keep him up to date on the political picture abroad. He received information and was also able to send his messages.

Even though this seems like a long time ago to him, who has been cut off from all communication, he nonetheless still has experiences from meetings in the past, and thus I hope he still knows that his entire network and supporters are still working for him.

The hope that he will not be forgotten is what I believe will keep Ocalan alive. We hope that he still has the energy to continue his intellectual and political work behind the barbed wire. Ocalan has knowledge in many fields and should be considered an intellectual. His rich writings have inspired the Kurds as well as many around the world. He is also the clear and very capable negotiating partner when it comes to achieving a peace deal that will benefit the Kurdish people and Turkish society in general.

My personal wish is that all the good wishes, and all the constructive work being done abroad to shed light on Ocalan’s situation and find a solution to the Kurdish issue, that all this energy in his unity would reach him and give him strength, steadfastness and continuing to work.

What should be done to end the worsening isolation of leader Abdullah Ocalan?

The situation surrounding Abdullah Ocalan's imprisonment is a complex and controversial issue, and opinions differ on how to resolve it. Abdullah Ocalan is a Kurdish political leader and founder of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and the fact that the PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union means that the issues of release and negotiated solution to the Kurdish conflict are sensitive in many international political circles.

Efforts to address Abdullah Ocalan's worsening isolation typically include calls for improved prison conditions or his release, various campaigns and diplomatic initiatives. The Kurdish movement, as well as countless NGOs and human rights organizations around the world, are already engaged in working to highlight Ocalan's situation, as well as finding solutions and proposing initiatives for new peace negotiations between Turkey and the PKK. An example of this is the ongoing campaign “Freedom for Abdullah Ocalan: The Political Solution to the Kurdish Issue.”

If any of this is to be achieved, there must be a diplomatic effort, for example, by international bodies, such as the United Nations or the European Union, which can encourage dialogue between the parties involved to find a solution.

The government in Turkey, of course, plays a crucial role, but it also requires that Turkey be encouraged, preferably under pressure, to adhere to international laws, agreements and standards, and to participate in the dialogue put forward by various actors. There have been preliminary talks and peace initiatives in the past, and this could again be achieved through potential mediation countries or international diplomatic units facilitating talks between the Turkish government and Kurdish representatives to address relevant issues.

Activists and civil society organizations can raise awareness of the situation, defend human rights and promote dialogue as a means of resolving the problems surrounding Abdullah Ocalan and the Kurdish question.

Kurdish political leaders and representatives may have to engage to a greater degree than in the past in diplomatic efforts, at both the national and international levels, to address the situation and seek to improve it. Achieving dialogue between the Turkish government and Kurdish representatives is extremely important in this regard. Here it is necessary to bring in a third party who can facilitate negotiations.

It is important to note that any solution to this complex problem is likely to require a combination of efforts from different stakeholders. In addition, the political context, regional dynamics, and historical tensions further complicate the process of finding a mutually acceptable solution. But in any case, a peaceful and just solution must include dialogue and mutual commitment to address the basic political problems.

References

Willis, S., Zhu, S., and Hunt, N. (2015). A systematic review of the impact of political imprisonment on mental health. Aggression and violent behavior. Volume 25, Part A, pp. 173-183.

Imrali Island Prison Conditions in the Health Context (2023). Doctors Working Group in Kurdistan-ACAD. Dr… Dagdeferin

the biography

Karian Therese Westerheim is Professor of Educational Sciences at the University of Bergen, Norway, and has been Chair of the European Union-Turkey Civic Committee (EUTCC) since its founding in 2004. Her research focuses on multiculturalism, knowledge building within political movements, the Kurdish freedom movement and education in prisons. In addition to her academic work, Karian was a member of delegations to Turkey, Rojava/Northeastern Syria, and Souther Kurdistan. It has been banned in Turkiye since February 2009.

T/Satt.

ANHA