Qamishlo-  No news has been received from Abdullah Öcalan, Kurdish leader and the creator of the philosophy “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi”, for 22 months. The Women’s Office of the Movement for a Democratic Society (TEV-DEM) issued a press statement condemning the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan and demanding his physical freedom. The statement was read by Sewsen Hisên, Co-chair of the North and East Syrian Chamber of Industry.

 Call on the CPT

Underlining that no news has been received from Abdullah Öcalan for 22 months, the statement said, “As the Women’s Office of the TEV-DEM and organizations under the umbrella of the TEV-DEM, we call on the international community and human rights organizations to disclose the health condition of leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan). He has been kept in isolation in Imrali prison for more than 24 years. The isolation imposed on him has been deepened for 22 months. We call on the CPT to exhibit a firm stance against the rights violations committed by the Turkish state against leader Abdullah Öcalan.”

 ‘The leader’s freedom is women’s freedom’

“The freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, the Architect of the philosophy of ‘Jin, jiyan, azadi’, is the freedom of all women,” the statement said, “As women from all nations and religions, we always remember what leader Apo offered to women, freedom. Because forgetting is betrayal. We demand the end of the isolation imposed on our leader. The occupying Turkish state uses inhuman practices against our leader by inflicting psychological violence. We do not accept this systematic act that is contrary to Article No. 1 of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Urgent measures must be taken under international law in order to ensure the strengthening of people's confidence in the international community, and international organizations. The isolation imposed on leader Apo must end now and he must be allowed to meet his lawyers.”

The struggle will continue

Sewsen Hisên emphasized in the statement that international organizations and the international community must take responsibility for the health condition of Abdullah Öcalan and said, “The international community and international organizations must take a step and responsibility regarding the health condition of leader Apo. The freedom of leader Apo means the freedom of all people living in North and East Syria, particularly women. We will continue our struggle until we ensure the physical freedom of leader Apo.”