“Lifting isolation on leader is necessary step to establish stability"

Dr. Shmais Tamer Mahfoud believes that Leader Abdullah Ocalan is not merely a symbol of the struggle for freedom and justice, but that his direct intellectual presence and ideas constitute a fundamental reference in building a shared democratic project for all Syrians, based on the values of pluralism and peoples’ right to self-determination.

In a statement to ANHA agency, Shmais Tamer Mahfoud pointed out that the continued imprisonment of Leader Abdullah Ocalan in Imrali prison since 1999, by decision of the Turkish authorities, constitutes a blatant violation of basic rights, especially under conditions of complete isolation and deprivation of his legal and human rights.

Mahfoud sees the presence of Leader Abdullah Ocalan among his people as a necessary step toward achieving peace and stability in the region, and he called on the international community particularly the United Nations and human rights and humanitarian organizations to take immediate action and pressure Turkey to ensure his physical freedom.

He affirmed that the strict isolation imposed on Leader Abdullah Ocalan contradicts international laws and conventions, and that preventing visits and denying access to his lawyers or family members is a blatant violation of these rights. He also regards the severe isolation as a form of psychological torture, which is prohibited under international law.

Mahfoud stressed the urgent need for international human rights organizations to intervene to lift the isolation on Leader Abdullah Ocalan and guarantee his rights as a political prisoner, relying on the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, including the 2014 ruling which stated that the time had come for his release.

Dr. Shmais Tamer Mahfoud holds a doctorate in Public International Law. He is a writer and strategic researcher, serving as the General Supervisor of the National Democratic Civil Assembly and a member of the Syrian Democratic Alliance. He is known for his national stances and deep commitment to democracy and human rights issues, dedicating his efforts to defending democratic symbols and a vision that believes peace and stability in the region cannot be achieved without recognizing peoples’ rights and ending oppression.

Mahfoud joined the campaign “I Want to Meet Abdullah Ocalan” after reviewing the messages and approach of Leader Abdullah Ocalan, in which he found a profound intellectual and political discourse reflecting the aspirations of the region’s peoples for justice and freedom. He considers lifting the isolation on Leader Abdullah Ocalan a necessary step to establish the foundations of stability and political resolution in the region.

ANHA