International calls to compel Turkey to implement European Court rulings on leader Ocalan

More than 250 politicians, academics, trade unionists, and civil society activists from around the world addressed an open letter to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, demanding the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights rulings concerning Abdullah ocalan and guaranteeing his "right to hope," according to the Women's News Agency (NUJINHA).

The letter, published to coincide with the appointment of a new president for the Committee of Ministers, was signed by more than fifty elected officials from twenty countries, as well as representatives from twenty trade unions and numerous human rights and civil society organizations.

The signatories called on the Committee to compel Turkey to implement the 2014 European Court of Human Rights ruling in the case of Abdullah Ocalan/Turkey (No. 2), deeming that its implementation constitutes a fundamental step towards strengthening the rule of law and democracy, not only with regard to Abdullah Ocalan but also for the thousands of other prisoners subjected to the same legal framework.

The signatories of the letter pointed out that the success of the peace process in Turkey, in which leader Abdullah Ocalan continues to play a pivotal role, requires guaranteeing his fundamental rights and enabling him to fulfill his political role. They also mentioned the ongoing international appeals in recent years, most notably a letter signed by 88 Nobel laureates last summer, in addition to hundreds of legal requests to visit leader Abdullah Ocalan in prison.

The signatories emphasized that Turkey has a historic opportunity to make progress on the path to peace and democracy by addressing the Kurdish issue, stressing that respecting the rights of leader Abdullah Ocalan is an essential part of this process.