French Senator emphasizes need for Leader's physical freedom

International reactions continue to escalate over Turkey's breach of international and domestic laws by holding leader Abdullah Ocalan in severe isolation on Imrali Island for over 25 years, with no information from him for the past 40 months.

The global campaign under the slogan "Freedom for Abdullah Ocalan, Solution to the Kurdish Issue," which began on October 10, 2023, is gradually expanding. Prominent figures from various communities have noted that the legal violations observed on Imrali are unparalleled worldwide, including Senator Pascal Savoldelli, one of France’s leading politicians.

Senator Savoldelli recently submitted a request to the Turkish Ministry of Justice to meet the leader Abdullah Ocalan. In this context, the senator responded to questions from the Firat News Agency (ANF) regarding his request to the Turkish Ministry of Justice and the isolation imposed in Imrali.

*You have requested a meeting with leader Abdullah Ocalan. What is the main objective of this request?

First and foremost, my request to meet leader Abdullah Ocalan is a humanitarian one. He has been imprisoned for 25 years, with no information about him for over three years. We don’t know his health condition, and he is not allowed to meet with his family or his lawyer, and is being held in isolation. Therefore, my request to meet him is primarily a humanitarian initiative.

Secondly, leader Abdullah Ocalan is not just an ordinary prisoner; he played a crucial role in ceasefire negotiations and ending conflict. As a mediator, it is inappropriate for him to remain in prison. In other words, he does not choose violence but seeks to resolve issues of violence and conflict through political and diplomatic means.

I am angered by the Turkish state's stance toward leader Abdullah Ocalan. For this reason, I am demanding that his family, companions, and lawyer be informed, and that we, as elected representatives, be informed of his health status and detention conditions. We know nothing; there is complete secrecy, and I am ready to meet him.

*As you noted in your request, leader Abdullah Ocalan has been held under harsh conditions in Imrali Prison for 25 years, with no information about him for over three years. How should the isolation imposed in Imrali be evaluated?

Considering the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the United Nations' Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules), it is clear that Turkey is in violation and must be condemned.

Turkey is not adhering to these international agreements. To correct this situation, information about leader Abdullah Ocalan’s health must be provided, and his detention conditions and human rights must be reviewed; in other words, he must be visited. This fundamental rule is formally recognized by the international community and the Republic of Turkey. By signing these international agreements related to the civil and political rights of detainees, Turkey must show respect for these rules. Moreover, we are dealing with a political prisoner who cannot be communicated with, and we have no information regarding his health.

*We observe that institutions like the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the Council of Europe, responsible for protecting these agreements, remain silent in the face of this situation. What would you like to say about the stance of these institutions?

Precisely for this reason, I am among those who have taken action, and we should act at the European level. I have written to many parliamentarians and senators to encourage them to adopt and express the same stance. In particular, we should receive a response in the context of the Council of Europe's commitments, which Turkey has accepted under the European Convention on Human Rights. When a commitment is made, it must be fulfilled. This applies not only to Turkey but to all countries. However, in this specific case, we are talking about Turkey. Turkey has signed the European Convention on Human Rights and, therefore, must respect the convention. Common rights should be promoted, and this issue needs to be addressed through available European and international mechanisms.

*Has the Turkish Ministry of Justice responded to your request?

I have not yet received a response, but I am advocating for it. It is frustrating when you do not receive any information about a person who has been imprisoned for many years. As a member of the French Senate, I am awaiting a reply to my request. The lack of response is a problem in itself; regardless of the reply, I must receive it. Failure to respond is part of a persistent mentality, implying a lack of dialogue. During the recent elections in Turkey, parliamentarians from all political orientations were invited to follow up on this issue. A state should not fear parliamentarians from another country, and informing a parliament member about the status of a detainee and visiting them in prison should pose no danger.

*The Kurdish people's demands are repeatedly ignored under the guise of "counter-terrorism." How do you assess the fact that even the most humanitarian demands are reduced and ignored under these laws?

Based on my experiences in France and what I have seen around the world, I can say that there is now a conflation of terrorism with political activity. In other words, those in power who do not want to grant rights to the opposition label all their activities as terrorist. Moreover, I have observed in Turkey that an elected mayor can be arbitrarily dismissed, which is not possible under the French constitution. Municipalities are the foundation of democracy, whether in Turkey or other countries, and the legitimacy of local elections should not be questioned by any supervisory body or higher authority.

This is one reason we need to focus on leader Abdullah Ocalan’s situation because we must find a solution. When any political activity is deemed terrorist, it means we are not supporting a resolution. This ultimately sends a message of violence, signaling violence itself.

Because of this stance, there are always victims, as we face brutality, killing, torture, and inhumane conditions. Here, we have a political prisoner who plays the role of mediator, even initiating peace talks. I do not understand how someone who wants to conduct peace talks and calls for a ceasefire can be labeled as a terrorist. This is not "terrorism"; it is a call for peace. It should be political for the Kurdish people as much as for the Turkish people. This applies to all global issues. As mentioned earlier, Turkey is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights and claims it will meet the requirements of this convention. However, the ongoing situation where no information is received from leader Abdullah Ocalan and other political prisoners held in Imrali for a long time is a violation.

“There is state terrorism against the Kurdish people”

In any case, you cannot talk about democracy in a country when you imprison the opposition; this is a contradiction in itself. I believe that President Erdogan and his majority have decided to eliminate the opposition by denying Kurdish demands. It is impossible for a person to live under these conditions.

This is a form of terrorism. When you decide that other peoples have no rights, that itself is a form of terrorism. Hence, there is state terrorism. What I mean is that the approach towards the Kurdish people is nothing more than state terrorism. Relations between the peoples of Turkey and France are very good fundamentally. Based on that, I have requested to visit leader Abdullah Ocalan and see the other detainees if they wish. In France, for example, members of parliament have the right to visit all places where people are deprived of their freedom. In other words, when I leave, I can go to a prison or a detention center, and the doors will be opened for me. Parliamentarians can visit detainees and receive opinions from staff and security forces overseeing the detainees. This situation is part of democracy in France.

*There is a global campaign titled “Freedom for Abdullah Ocalan, the Political Solution to the Kurdish Issue.” Do you have a message regarding this?

Leader Abdullah Ocalan has demonstrated his will and fighting spirit to achieve a political solution. Unfortunately, this decision has been silenced in a heavily guarded island prison. He is someone who talks about peace and plays the role of mediator in ceasefire and conflict resolution. Therefore, I believe he should regain his freedom and move freely. What is Turkey afraid of?

There are countries without political prisoners. In my view, there should not be political prisoners at all. The Greek definition of politics is the life of the city. If men and women are interested in democracy and the life of the city, no one has the right to and there can be no justification for depriving them of their freedom.

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ANHA