61 people from the world of politics, art, civil society, law and academia in France called on the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) to go to Imrali immediately to end the isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan. A letter was sent to the CPT with the signatures of 61 people including senators, parliamentarians, academics, lawyers, trade unionists, writers, journalists and political party presidents.

 

CALL TO CPT TO 'SEND A DELEGATION TO IMRALI'

 

Among the signatories are the National Secretary of the French Communist Party, the First Secretary of the Socialist Party, many leftist and environmentalist deputies and senators. The letter called on the CPT to "Fulfill its responsibilities by immediately sending a delegation to Imralı to meet with Abdullah Öcalan and check his health condition."

 

'IT IS A CLEAR FORM OF TORTURE'

 

The following statements were included in the call text made to CPT under the name "Platform for Abdullah Öcalan: "As members of a group of representatives of various non-governmental organisations, trade unions, political parties, peace and human rights organisations, activists, academics, professors, lawyers and journalists, we would like to hereby make an urgent call on you.

 

For 38 months, Abdullah Öcalan, who is regarded by millions of Kurds as their legitimate political representative, has been held by the Turkish state in an extreme form of solitary confinement on the prison island of Imrali. Turkey has made Mr Öcalan ‘disappear’ by way of his inhumane isolation – as if he no longer existed – which is contrary to human rights."

 

The letter continued: "He has been denied any contact with the outside world, including his lawyers and his family, for over three years now. Throughout this period, Turkey has attempted to literally turn the island of Imrali into a ‘floating coffin’. Mr Öcalan, who is now 75 years old, has been subjected to isolation torture for 25 years, with no information about his health reaching the public in the last three years. At present, not even his whereabouts can be confirmed. Yet, his state of health is a matter of great concern for many Kurds.

 

We would therefore like to ask you, the CPT, to take action. As the CPT, you have the right and the responsibility to visit all detention centres of the states that have signed the Convention, including Turkey. This gives you the opportunity to send a team of experts to Imrali, where the Turkish government is obliged to grant you unrestricted access. You have the opportunity to visit the prison where Mr Öcalan is detained and you must be allowed to meet him in person so that he can communicate freely with you."

 

The letter added: "We would like to ask you, the CPT, to act in accordance with Article 3 of the Statute of the Council of Europe, which states: ‘Every member of the Council of Europe must accept the principles of the rule of law and of the enjoyment by all persons within its jurisdiction of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and collaborate sincerely and effectively in the realisation of the aim of the Council as specified in Chapter I.’ Mr Öcalan is a citizen of a Council of Europe member state that has denied him his human rights for two and a half decades and that has also denied him the right to meet his lawyers and communicate with his family for three years.

 

We urge you to send a delegation to Imrali immediately to speak to Mr Öcalan and find out more about his welfare. It would be highly desirable if you could urge Turkey to finally grant Mr Öcalan the fundamental right to meet his family and lawyers. Such action is crucial to ensure that Turkey fully honours its obligations as a member of the Council of Europe. This would help resolve a pressing human rights issue and address the concerns of millions of Kurds. It could also revitalise the spirit of reconciliation that is necessary for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey."

 

The letter was signed by:  

 

"Fabien Roussel, National Secretary of the French Communist Party. Member of Parliament

 

Olivier Faure, First Secretary of the Socialist Party, Member of Parliament

 

Anne Stambach-Terrenoir, Co-Chair of the GUE Group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

 

Éric COQUEREL, LFI-NUPES Member of Parliament, Chair of the Finance Committee of the National Assembly

 

Frédéric MATHIEU, MP for LFI-NUPES Ille-et-Vilaine, co-chair of the Kurdish working group of the National Assembly

 

Francis Wurtz, Honorary Member of the European Parliament

 

Pascal Savoldelli, Senator

 

Anne Souyris, Senator of Paris

 

Raquel Garrido, LFI-NUPES Member of Parliament

 

Anna Pic, Socialist Party Member of Parliament

 

Andy Kerbrat, LFI-NUPES Member of Parliament

 

Hadrien Clouet, LFI-NUPES Member of Parliament

 

Daniel Salmon, Senator for Ille-et-Vilaine

 

Monique De Marco, Gironde Senator

 

Guy Benarroche, Senator from Bouches-du-Rhône

 

Danielle Simonnet, LFI-NUPES Member of Parliament

 

Dylan Boutiflat, PS International Secretary

 

Emmanuel Fernandes, LFI-NUPES Member of Parliament

 

Jerome Gleize, EELV

 

Grégory Blanc, Senator from Maine-et-Loire

 

Raymonde Poncet Monge, Senator of the Rhône

 

Raphaëlle Primet, Co-Chair of the Communist and Citizens Group - Municipality of Paris

 

Joël Dutto, PCF Honorary General Council Member, Bouche du Rhône

 

Dominique Sopo, President of SOS Racisme

 

François Sauterey, MRAP Co-Chair

 

Pascal Torre, University Professor, France-Kurdistan Co-President

 

Ara Toranian is Co-President of the National Council of Coordinating Councils of Armenian Organizations (CCAF) in France.

 

Şahin Polat, Co-Chairman of the Kurdish Democratic Council (CDK-F) in France

 

Berivan Fırat, spokesperson of the Democratic Kurdish Council (CDK-F) in France

 

Khaled Issa, AANES

 

Jacques Taraf, CGT

 

Maison du Tamil Eelam (Center for the Protection of the Rights of the Tamil People)

 

Carol Mann, Sociologist and President of FemAid

 

Renée Le Mignot, MRAP Honorary President

 

François Devedjian, Lawyer

 

Jean-Christophe Martin, Lawyer

 

David Abide, Lawyer

 

Chris den hond, Journalist OrientXXI

 

Maryam Madjidi, Author

 

Rosa Moussaoui, Journalist

 

Pierre Barbancey, Journalist-Major Correspondent

 

Margot Barios, Columnist

 

Nils Andersson, Former broadcaster

 

Jeanne Delfour, Author

 

Marcel Doru, Author

 

Marc Walfrom, Journalist

 

Joseph Andras, Author

 

Mylene Salon, film director

 

Philippe Petit, journalist

 

Julien Conge, journalist

 

Gérard Mordillat, Author

 

Chowra Makaremi, Anthropologist

 

Marie Lière, Anthropologist

 

Léa Verrier, Sociologist

 

Jean-Louis Gavin, Sociologist

 

Geneviève Garrigos, Paris councilor

 

Rachida Brakni, Actress, director

 

Bernard Henri, Anthropologist

 

İbrahim Seydo Aydoğan, Senior lecturer, linguist.

 

Maxime Devant, Sociologist

 

Louis Bartant, Sociologist"