KCK: Let’s raise United Struggle against Isolation, Torture

Today, the joint presidency of the Executive Council of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) issued a written statement, saluting the activity of political detainees in northern Kurdistan and Turkey, which has been continuing since November 27, 2023 until now, the statement read," Turkey by integrating the struggle for democracy with the ongoing global freedom campaign for the physical freedom of Rêber Apo and the democratic solution of the Kurdish question. It must lead the people to organize and take action on this basis.

For four years, absolute isolation has been imposed on Rêber Apo, and no news has been received from him. Thousands of political prisoners in prisons have been protesting against this absolute isolation for more than six months. As part of their protests, they are not receiving family visits, and they are not appearing in court. In an environment where there are policies of absolute isolation and tens of thousands of political prisoners do not appear in courts and do not visit their families, the most fundamental duty of democratic politics and society is to see this reality and to grow the struggle by embracing it without hesitation.

The 26-year-long Imrali system and the absolute isolation of Rêber Apo have no legal, humanitarian, moral, or conscientious basis. The law has been abolished in Imrali. Lawyers and human rights defenders must oppose this and take action. This is the most basic requirement of the situation. It is not realistic to expect law, justice, and democracy elsewhere when the law has been completely destroyed in Imrali. It is a reality that has been sufficiently proven that this cannot happen in Turkey. At the root of all the lawlessness in Turkey is the lawlessness in Imrali. Law is abolished in Imrali, and lawlessness is imposed on the whole country. Recognizing this reality, lawyers and legal institutions must oppose the absolute isolation and lawlessness in Imrali and stand by the democratic and just stance of society.

On the other hand, everyone who understands herself/himself as democratic, libertarian, faithful, conscientious, and considers herself/himself truly oppositional must stand against the absolute isolation of Rêber Apo and support the demands of political prisoners. The Imrali system and the absolute isolation imposed on Rêber Apo in Imrali are not only a policy against the Kurdish people; they are also a policy against Turkish society and the democratization of Turkey. The mentality and policy of the AKP-MHP government are based on Kurdish enmity and Kurdish genocide. This policy does not only harm the Kurdish people; it harms Turkish society as well. It is obvious what kind of situation the AKP-MHP government has brought Turkey and Turkish society into with this policy. It is clear that the continuation of this policy will lead to much worse consequences, and everyone will suffer. The main thing Turkey needs is democratization. This can only be achieved through a democratic solution to the Kurdish question. Everyone who does not stand with the AKP-MHP government and who is in favor of freedom and democracy should recognize this reality, stand against the absolute isolation of Rêber Apo, and, on this basis, support the demands of political prisoners. Based on this, we call on the Kurdish people, the peoples of Turkey, and the democratic forces, particularly those who do not side with the fascist AKP-MHP government, who oppose fascism and are in favor of freedom, democracy, and law, to support the demands of political prisoners, to develop a common attitude against the isolation-torture system, and to raise a united struggle.

ANHA