KHRAG Secretary: Global solidarity will achieve freedom

On October 10 of last year, a global campaign was launched in 74 centers around the world entitled “Freedom for Abdullah Ocalan, the political solution to the Kurdish issue,” to demand the achievement of physical freedom for leader Abdullah Ocalan and a solution to the Kurdish issue. The campaign has now reached 105 centers around the world, while accession to it is increasing day by day.

The secretary of the Kurdish Human Rights Action Group in South Africa (KHRAG), a human rights activist, and one of the campaign’s members, Fadla Muhammad, spoke to our agency about the strict isolation imposed on leader Abdullah Ocalan and the “Freedom for Abdullah Ocalan, the political solution to the Kurdish issue” campaign.

“They cannot limit the spread of Ocalan’s ideas.”

Fadila Muhammad stated that the continued isolation of Leader Abdullah Ocalan is clear evidence of “the Turkish state’s violation of international treaties related to the treatment of detainees. International law clearly stipulates that prolonged isolation is considered torture, and this is what we are witnessing in Turkey, and they are thus seeking to prevent the spread of Ocalan’s ideas.” But the Turkish state will not be able to limit the spread of his ideas, as his ideas inspire the Kurdish people and the peoples of the Middle East to reach a democratic solution.”

“The Kurdish issue cannot be solved without Ocalan.”

Fadila Muhammad highlighted the role of Leader Abdullah Ocalan in resolving the issues, and pointed out the impossibility of resolving the Kurdish issue in any negotiations that do not include Leader Ocalan. She commented on the Turkish position on the Kurdish issue, saying: “There is a need for negotiation, and the Turkish regime’s rejection of the solution shows a narrow and anti-democratic historical point of view, and he exploits the Kurdish issue to hide the economic and social crisis in Turkey. The Kurdish issue cannot be resolved in any negotiations that do not include Abdullah Ocalan, so these negotiations cannot begin until after the unconditional release of all detainees. Politicians, as Nelson Mandela said: “Only free people can negotiate, but prisoners; "They cannot conclude agreements."

“The campaign that was for Mandela is today for Ocalan.”

Regarding the global campaign demanding the physical freedom of leader Abdullah Ocalan and a political solution to the Kurdish issue, Fadila Muhammad stressed the necessity and importance of participating in it, and said: “We, in South Africa, realize the value of global solidarity, and we realize that solidarity in order to pressure the regime to negotiate meaningfully is very important.” This solidarity strengthens local campaigns. In South Africa, we had a global campaign for the freedom of Nelson Mandela, and the campaign now is for the freedom of Ocalan, and the idea of resistance against the authorities will be achieved with international solidarity and clear demands regarding the process of democratic negotiations and freedom.”

 T/ Satt.

ANHA