The Turkish authorities have taken an extraordinary step towards killing the leader of the Kurdish Freedom Movement, Abdullah Ocalan.
There is a dark and murderous plan that is unfolding on Imrali Island.
Since 1999, when Abdullah Ocalan was kidnapped and handed over to the Turkish authorities by a unified plot by US and others, he has been incarcerated in what the CPT condemned when they visited his prison cell in 2007.
The Turkish authorities have now began the final stage in the death of the leader of the Kurdish Movement. A death that would leave the Kurdish Freedom Struggle without a leader at the very time when such a leader is needed. And there is the motivation for killing him.
The Turkish psychological warfare department is moving in darker and more malicous ways than previously and this time the very life of the Kurdish leader is at stake.
Conditions, far from getting better, have got worse and the prisoners who have been moved to Imrali are probably state informers and provocetors, none are known to the Kurdish Freedom Movement as close to Ocalan.
In fact one of them is an ex PKK'er, one an apparent member of an extreme left wing group and the others did not want to be moved to Imrali.
The Kurdish Movement have responded already to these onimous events and young Kurdish youth are on the streets already.
It is the International Community that now need to respond by demanding that this threat to the life of Abdullah Ocalan is taken seriously and that all steps are taken to avoid his murder by the Turkish State. The future of Turkey and the entire region is dependent upon this. Should Abdullah Ocalan be removed by murder the consequences are so dire for all that it should not be allowed to happen.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO AVOID THE MURDER OF THE KURDISH LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN!
This from a petition posted online:
The Turkish state and the government has long promised to the European Court and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, CPT, to change the brutal isolating conditions that has been held towards the Kurdish PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan during eleven years on the Imrali island prison in the Sea of Marmara in Turkey.
This gave us hope that the isolation would be removed and that Ocalan's right to life and his human rights would be respected. According to reports from both the CPT and the European Court, the condition Ocalan lives in is a clear violation of all international laws regarding the respect of a prisoner, his human rights and human dignity are therefore not reasonable.
This fact threatens both his mental and physical health. That Ocalan's physical and mental health has significantly deteriorated by his confinement on Imrali and the conditions he is held captive in, is also witnessed by his relatives and his lawyers. It has long been said by the Turkish government that the conditions Ocalan has lived in during the recent ten years should change. The actual result of this change occurred by an emergency report that Ocalan himself, his lawyers and relatives have published for the national and the international community.
The report presents that the Turkish state has set up a new prison, which Ocalan was transferred to on Tuesday 17 November 2009. According to the Turkish Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin, nine other prisoners from different prisons around the country will also move there so that Ocalan will not be the sole prisoner on the island of Imrali. But no trace of this change has until now been recognized.
Ocalan is still the only prisoner in a prison which is ten times more isolating and the conditions which he lives in are much more inhumane than the previous prevailing conditions.
Although the Turkish Ministry of Justice indicate that obvious changes have been made at the newly built prison on the island in order to improve the living conditions of Ocalan, the reality is quite the opposite. In the new prison and in the new cell which Ocalan is in, much worse conditions exist compared to the previous prison he has been held in. Ocalan’s new cell is only six square meters, while the previous cell was 13 square meters.
The air conditioning is much worse than before, which leads to big difficulties in absorption of oxygen. The window is also extremely worse. It is constructed upwards and no oxygenated fresh air is let through. Its design prevents Ocalan from having a view of the outside world and the daylight that comes in from the window is very hot.
In his statement, on 18 November 2009, Ocalan describes his new living conditions by following:
"My new cell is half the size of my old cell and consists of six square meters. The air conditioning here is also much worse.
In order to be able to inhale and exhale air, I must stand by the window and open it.
The window here is built upwards and I have no view on the outside world. The only thing I can behold is the sky. When I have to open the window in order to get oxygen, the sun burns me greatly.
Even though the heat from the sun is so unpleasant, that I feel like I will get a heat stroke, I am forced to stay by the open window in order to get oxygen. I have very severe breathing problems here. "
The Kurdish PKK leader's brother Mehmet Ocalan, who recently visited his brother at the newly established prison, on 18 November 2009, said in an interview with the press that the sharp deterioration had been made on Ocalan's living conditions at the prison by informing the following:
"In the name of improvement clear deterioration has been made. The cell that my brother now is living in is a room of six square meters, but the former was thirteen square meters. The air conditioning is significantly much worse and my brother has great difficulty in inhalation and exhalation of air.
Ocalan said during the meeting to us that he feels that he at any time will be suffocated and that every time he tries to inhale air, it feels like his guts are coming out of his body.
My brother was also subjected to solitary confinement during our meeting with him. Previously, the distance between him and us was ten metres less when we met him, but now Ocalan was buried in a cage of glas and the distance between us was thirty metres. We had to yell to hear each other.
This was the worst meeting and the worst state we have seen him in during the ten years which Ocalan has been held in a Turkish prison. As Ocalan's family, we strongly protest against the Turkish government's actions against him. His deteriorated condition and state create considerable concern for us."
We, the Kurds in the Diaspora and Kurdish friends, would like to turn to Amnesty International & European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, CPT and all organizations which have the objective to work for humanity and human rights and we appeal for your humanity and your human attention on this serious issue.
The above mentioned factors all point to a system, which is twice as much worse isolating and painful, has been established at the new prison. This has occurred despite CPT's demands for improvement of the conditions.
In Amnesty International reports the case has been highlighted a number of times in the past and even the organization has made an appeal that the social and psychological isolation, which Ocalan is subjected to, should end.
Amnesty International has clearly expressed criticism against the CPT's latest report, which was published on 6 March 2008 and held a number of softer emphasizes against Turkey, on the case where it was revealed that Ocalan has been poisoned.
Amnesty International had through their head office in London stated that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, CPT, was vague and weak in their indications and pressure on Turkey concerning the treatment and the poisoning of Ocalan.
According to Amnesty International reports and international criteria, isolation is an extensive and dangerous crime of a man's physical and mental well-being.
That a country like Turkey, who has signed on most of the European criterias and laws for a humane treatment of detainees in prisons, promising to improve Abdullah Ocalan's situation and living conditions, but are instead doing the exact opposite, is both appalling and unacceptable.
We hereby demand that Amnesty International and mainly that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, CPT, give attention to the case and that you put this on your agenda.
We demand you to initiate immediate efforts and that you take actions against this brutal decomposition, where the aim is to slowly break down Abdullah Ocalan and thus conduct him into a life-threatening health condition - both mentally and physically.
We demand that a delegation from your organizations visits the Imrali island prison in Turkey in order to follow up and to pay attention to the new changes that have been made.
We demand CPT, who are responsible for this situation, to take their obligation, to fulfill their responsibility and to defend the rights the committee themselves have guaranteed.
That Abdullah Ocalan's death sentence was abolished was good news for everyone, but that the sentence was replaced by torture and painful isolation, which may be called as a white execution, is an inhumane fact which your organizations should not accept and therefore do everything in your power to both deter and prevent.
Petition:
We hereby demand that Amnesty International and mainly that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, CPT, give attention to the case and that you put this on your agenda.
We demand you to initiate immediate efforts and that you take actions against this brutal decomposition, where the aim is to slowly break down Abdullah Ocalan and thus conduct him into a life-threatening health condition - both mentally and physically.
We demand that a delegation from your organizations visits the Imrali island prison in Turkey in order to follow up and to pay attention to the new changes that have been made.
We demand CPT, who are responsible for this situation, to take their obligation, to fulfill their responsibility and to defend the rights the committee themselves have guaranteed.
Read Abdullah Ocalan's words on his health conditions here.
Sign the Petition for better living conditions for Abdullah Ocalan here.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Turkey Move to Kill Abdullah Ocalan!
Stop Turkeys State Killing of Abdullah Ocalan!
Kurdish Federation in UK
Press Release 1st December 2009.
The Kurdish Freedom Movement sincerely and honestly believes that the Turkish authorities have taken their plan towards killing the leader of the Kurdish Freedom Movement, Abdullah Ocalan a step closer.
Recently the leader of the Kurdish Freedom Movement was moved from the cell he has been incarcerated in since his abduction from Kenya in 1999.
Far from being a progressive step towards greater freedom and improvement in the Kurdish leader’s prison conditions, Abdullah Ocalan’s new cell is far worse than the previous cell and it is widely believed that it has been meticulously designed to accelerate the death of the leader of the Kurdish people’s Freedom Movement. Such a death will be blamed on ‘natural causes’. Already suffering from breathing problems before entering the new smaller cell, the Kurdish Leader commented on his new conditions:
"My new cell is half the size of my old cell and consists of six square meters. The air conditioning here is also much worse. In order to be able to inhale and exhale air, I must stand by the window and open it. The window here is built upwards and I have no view on the outside world. The only thing I can behold is the sky. When I have to open the window in order to get oxygen, the sun burns me greatly. Even though the heat from the sun is so unpleasant, that I feel like I will get a heat stroke, I am forced to stay by the open window in order to get oxygen. I have very severe breathing problems here. "
Abdullah Ocalan, Imrali Prison Island Nov 2009.
The deliberate and planned killing of Abdullah Ocalan by the Turkish Generals will have severe and serious consequences worldwide and will destabilise Turkey and the Middle East for many years to come. The International Community must not let it happen!
STOP THE STATE KILLING OF ABDULLAH OCALAN!
Press Conference: 2pm, Wednesday 3rd December 2009
Kurdish Community Centre,11 Portland Gardens, Haringey, London N4 1HU.
(For more details please contact Arzu Pesman, Kurdish Federation in UK 07960302192)
Sunday, November 29, 2009
What can you do to help Zeynab? Join with DI to help 12 Kurds condemned to death in Iran
Iran: DI Urgent Action: Halt the Execution of 12 Kurdish Political Activists
Written by DI Monitoring & Investigation Committee
Sunday, 15 November 2009
NO To Death Penalty
NO To Death Penalty
After the execution of the political activist Ehsan Fatahiyan on November 11, 2009, 12 political activists are facing the same fate. Almost all of them have been accused of being a mohareb (”enemy of God”) and/or “endangering state security” and sentenced to death after unfair trials.
DI affirms the necessity for an immediate intervention by the United Nations and the international community in order to halt these scheduled executions.
Names: Zeynab Jalaliyan (female), Shirkoh Moarefi (male), Habibollah Latifi [1] (male), Farhad Chalesh (male), Ramezan Ahmad (male), Rostam Arkiya (male), Fasih Yasamini (male), Rashid Akhkandi (male), Hossein Khaziri (male), Farzad Kamangar [2] (male), Ali Heydariyan (male) and Farhad Vakili (male)
The case: At least 12 political activists are feared to be at imminent risk of execution in Sanandaj prison. Almost all of them have reportedly been tortured and sentenced to death after unfair trials.
Mr. Moarefi, aged 30, was detained in October 2008 in the city of Saqqz, in the Kurdistan Province of Iran. He has been convicted of being a mohareb (”enemy of God”) and “endangering state security”.
Ms. Zeynab Jalaliyan, aged 27, was arrested in the city of Kermanshah, located in the western part of Iran.her trail lasted only a few minutes, during which time she was convicted of being a mohareb (”enemy of God”). Ms. Jalaliyan was born in Maku town in the northwestern part of the West Azerbaijan province of Iran.
DI Views & Demands:
Defend International urges Iran to stop the execution of the political activist Mr. Shirkoh Moarefi and 11 others, and encourages the Iranian authorities to review death penalty in light of International Human Rights Law.
Defend International condemns the execution of Ehsan Fatahiyan [3] on the morning of 11 November 2009, and warns the authorities not to make the same mistake again.
DI campaign: Please copy the following appeals, add your signature and address and send them to arrive as soon as possible.
With thanks and appreciation
Defend International
Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 10017
USA
Fax: 212-963-7055
Subject: Please forward to His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon
Your Excellency,
I would like to draw your attention to the case of at least 12 Kurdish political activists feared to be at imminent risk of execution in Sanandaj prison in Iran. The prisoner’s names are: Zeynab Jalaliyan (female), Shirkoh Moarefi (male), Habibollah Latifi (male), Farhad Chalesh (male), Ramezan Ahmad (male), Rostam Arkiya (male), Fasih Yasamini (male), Rashid Akhkandi (male), Hossein Khaziri (male), Farzad Kamangar (male), Ali Heydariyan (male) and Farhad Vakili (male). Almost all of them have reportedly been tortured, convicted of being a mohareb (”enemy of God”) and/or “endangering state security” and sentenced to death after unfair trials.
I affirm the necessity for an immediate intervention by the United Nations and the international community in order to halt these scheduled executions. I would also ask you to urge the Iranian authorities to immediately provide prisoners with medical attention, if needed, and to protect them from any further torture or ill-treatment.
I wish that the Secretary-General, in accordance with his mandate, will be able to prepare a report on the human rights situation in Iran. At such a time, the matter of Iranian nuclear weapons should not overshadow the human rights issues the people there are facing on a daily basis.
I would unite my voice with that of the General Assembly in its country-specific resolution on Iran adopted in November 2008, and call on Iran’s government to end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, including by releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political views.
Iran should consolidate its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights for all, on an equal footing and without exception. The Iranian authorities must take all necessary steps to ensure that being a member of minority ethnicity did not become the reason for criminal punishment, especially executions, arrests or detention. Human rights violations due to intolerance and other forms of discrimination must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible be held accountable.
I further condemn any action or attempt by Iran or its public officials to legalise, authorise or acquiesce in torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under any circumstances, including on grounds of national security or through judicial decisions. I’d like to highlight that the UN Assembly had emphasized that acts of torture can constitute crimes against humanity and that the perpetrators of all acts of torture must be prosecuted and punished. Therefore, I call for a transparent and independent body to investigate allegations of torture and to prosecute those responsible for such violations.
Iran must take steps to reform its criminal justice system and to declare a moratorium on executions.
I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.
Respectfully yours,
________________________
Ms. Navanethem Pillay
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Email: InfoDesk@ohchr.org
Dear Commissioner,
I would like to draw your attention to the case of at least 12 Kurdish political activists feared to be at imminent risk of execution in Sanandaj prison in Iran. The prisoner’s names are: Zeynab Jalaliyan (female), Shirkoh Moarefi (male), Habibollah Latifi (male), Farhad Chalesh (male), Ramezan Ahmad (male), Rostam Arkiya (male), Fasih Yasamini (male), Rashid Akhkandi (male), Hossein Khaziri (male), Farzad Kamangar (male), Ali Heydariyan (male) and Farhad Vakili (male). Almost all of them have reportedly been tortured, convicted of being a mohareb (”enemy of God”) and/or “endangering state security” and sentenced to death after unfair trials.
I affirm the necessity for an immediate intervention by the United Nations and the international community in order to halt these scheduled executions. I would also ask you to urge the Iranian authorities to immediately provide prisoners with medical attention, if needed, and to protect them from any further torture or ill-treatment.
I wish that the Secretary-General, in accordance with his mandate, will be able to prepare a report on the human rights situation in Iran. At such a time, the matter of Iranian nuclear weapons should not overshadow the human rights issues the people there are facing on a daily basis.
I would unite my voice with that of the General Assembly in its country-specific resolution on Iran adopted in November 2008, and call on Iran’s government to end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, including by releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political views.
Iran should consolidate its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights for all, on an equal footing and without exception. The Iranian authorities must take all necessary steps to ensure that being a member of minority ethnicity did not become the reason for criminal punishment, especially executions, arrests or detention. Human rights violations due to intolerance and other forms of discrimination must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible be held accountable.
I further condemn any action or attempt by Iran or its public officials to legalise, authorise or acquiesce in torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under any circumstances, including on grounds of national security or through judicial decisions. I’d like to highlight that the UN Assembly had emphasized that acts of torture can constitute crimes against humanity and that the perpetrators of all acts of torture must be prosecuted and punished. Therefore, I call for a transparent and independent body to investigate allegations of torture and to prosecute those responsible for such violations.
Iran must take steps to reform its criminal justice system and to declare a moratorium on executions.
I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.
Respectfully yours,
________________________
The Universal Periodic Review UPR
Email: UPRsubmissions@ohchr.org, and civilsocietyunit@ohchr.org, and uprpress@ohchr.org
Dear UPR Working Group,
I would like to draw your attention to the case of at least 12 Kurdish political activists feared to be at imminent risk of execution in Sanandaj prison in Iran. The prisoner’s names are: Zeynab Jalaliyan (female), Shirkoh Moarefi (male), Habibollah Latifi (male), Farhad Chalesh (male), Ramezan Ahmad (male), Rostam Arkiya (male), Fasih Yasamini (male), Rashid Akhkandi (male), Hossein Khaziri (male), Farzad Kamangar (male), Ali Heydariyan (male) and Farhad Vakili (male). Almost all of them have reportedly been tortured, convicted of being a mohareb (”enemy of God”) and/or “endangering state security” and sentenced to death after unfair trials.
I affirm the necessity for an immediate intervention by the United Nations and the international community in order to halt these scheduled executions. I would also ask you to urge the Iranian authorities to immediately provide prisoners with medical attention, if needed, and to protect them from any further torture or ill-treatment.
I wish that the Secretary-General, in accordance with his mandate, will be able to prepare a report on the human rights situation in Iran. At such a time, the matter of Iranian nuclear weapons should not overshadow the human rights issues the people there are facing on a daily basis.
I would unite my voice with that of the General Assembly in its country-specific resolution on Iran adopted in November 2008, and call on Iran’s government to end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, including by releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political views.
Iran should consolidate its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights for all, on an equal footing and without exception. The Iranian authorities must take all necessary steps to ensure that being a member of minority ethnicity did not become the reason for criminal punishment, especially executions, arrests or detention. Human rights violations due to intolerance and other forms of discrimination must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible be held accountable.
I further condemn any action or attempt by Iran or its public officials to legalise, authorise or acquiesce in torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under any circumstances, including on grounds of national security or through judicial decisions. I’d like to highlight that the UN Assembly had emphasized that acts of torture can constitute crimes against humanity and that the perpetrators of all acts of torture must be prosecuted and punished. Therefore, I call for a transparent and independent body to investigate allegations of torture and to prosecute those responsible for such violations.
Iran must take steps to reform its criminal justice system and to declare a moratorium on executions.
I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.
Respectfully yours,
________________________
Leader of the Islamic Republic,
His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei,
The Office of the Supreme Leader,
Shoahada Street,
Qom,
Islamic Republic of Iran,
Faxes: + 98.21.649.5880 / 21.774.2228,
Email: info@leader.ir, istiftaa@wilayah.org, webmaster@wilayah.org
Or via website: http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter
Your Excellency,
By this letter I would like to express my deepest concern about the safety of at least 12 Kurdish political activists, all feared to be at imminent risk of execution in Sanandaj prison. Almost all of them have reportedly been tortured, convicted of being a mohareb (”enemy of God”) and/or “endangering state security” and sentenced to death after unfair trials.
I urge you to commute the death sentence of Zeynab Jalaliyan (female), Shirkoh Moarefi, Habibollah Latifi, Farhad Chalesh, Ramezan Ahmad, Rostam Arkiya, Fasih Yasamini, Rashid Akhkandi, Hossein Khaziri, Farzad Kamangar, Ali Heydariyan and Farhad Vakili.
I would unite my voice with that of the General Assembly in its country-specific resolution on Iran adopted in November 2008, and call on Iran’s government to end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, including by releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political views.
I urge Iran to consolidate its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights for all, on an equal footing and without exception. Further, I urge the Iranian authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure that being a member of minority ethnicity did not become the reason for criminal punishment, especially executions, arrests or detention. Human rights violations due to intolerance and other forms of discrimination must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible be held accountable.
I further condemn any action or attempt by Iran or its public officials to legalise, authorise or acquiesce in torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under any circumstances, including on grounds of national security or through judicial decisions. According to the UN Assembly, acts of torture can constitute crimes against humanity and the perpetrators of all acts of torture must be prosecuted and punished. I call for a transparent and independent body to investigate allegations of torture and to prosecute those responsible for such violations.
Prisoners with health problems must be treated without forced intervention.
I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.
Yours sincerely,
________________________
Head of the Judicial system of Iran,
His Excellency Ayatollah Sadeqh Larijani,
Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave.
Tehran,
Islamic Republic of Iran,
Email: info@dadiran.ir
or via website: http://www.dadiran.ir/tabid/75/Default.aspx
Your Excellency,
By this letter I would like to express my deepest concern about the safety of at least 12 Kurdish political activists, all feared to be at imminent risk of execution in Sanandaj prison. Almost all of them have reportedly been tortured, convicted of being a mohareb (”enemy of God”) and/or “endangering state security” and sentenced to death after unfair trials.
I urge you to commute the death sentence of Zeynab Jalaliyan (female), Shirkoh Moarefi, Habibollah Latifi, Farhad Chalesh, Ramezan Ahmad, Rostam Arkiya, Fasih Yasamini, Rashid Akhkandi, Hossein Khaziri, Farzad Kamangar, Ali Heydariyan and Farhad Vakili.
I would unite my voice with that of the General Assembly in its country-specific resolution on Iran adopted in November 2008, and call on Iran’s government to end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, including by releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political views.
I urge Iran to consolidate its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights for all, on an equal footing and without exception. Further, I urge the Iranian authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure that being a member of minority ethnicity did not become the reason for criminal punishment, especially executions, arrests or detention. Human rights violations due to intolerance and other forms of discrimination must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible be held accountable.
I further condemn any action or attempt by Iran or its public officials to legalise, authorise or acquiesce in torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under any circumstances, including on grounds of national security or through judicial decisions. According to the UN Assembly, acts of torture can constitute crimes against humanity and the perpetrators of all acts of torture must be prosecuted and punished. I call for a transparent and independent body to investigate allegations of torture and to prosecute those responsible for such violations.
Prisoners with health problems must be treated without forced intervention.
I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.
Yours sincerely,
________________________
President
His Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
The Presidency, Palestine Avenue,
Azerbaijan Intersection,
Tehran,
Islamic Republic of Iran,
Fax: + 98.21.649.5880,
E-mail: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir
Your Excellency,
By this letter I would like to express my deepest concern about the safety of at least 12 Kurdish political activists, all feared to be at imminent risk of execution in Sanandaj prison. Almost all of them have reportedly been tortured, convicted of being a mohareb (”enemy of God”) and/or “endangering state security” and sentenced to death after unfair trials.
I urge you to commute the death sentence of Zeynab Jalaliyan (female), Shirkoh Moarefi, Habibollah Latifi, Farhad Chalesh, Ramezan Ahmad, Rostam Arkiya, Fasih Yasamini, Rashid Akhkandi, Hossein Khaziri, Farzad Kamangar, Ali Heydariyan and Farhad Vakili.
I would unite my voice with that of the General Assembly in its country-specific resolution on Iran adopted in November 2008, and call on Iran’s government to end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, including by releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political views.
I urge Iran to consolidate its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights for all, on an equal footing and without exception. Further, I urge the Iranian authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure that being a member of minority ethnicity did not become the reason for criminal punishment, especially executions, arrests or detention. Human rights violations due to intolerance and other forms of discrimination must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible be held accountable.
I further condemn any action or attempt by Iran or its public officials to legalise, authorise or acquiesce in torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under any circumstances, including on grounds of national security or through judicial decisions. According to the UN Assembly, acts of torture can constitute crimes against humanity and the perpetrators of all acts of torture must be prosecuted and punished. I call for a transparent and independent body to investigate allegations of torture and to prosecute those responsible for such violations.
Prisoners with health problems must be treated without forced intervention.
I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.
Yours sincerely,
________________________
Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28,
1209 Geneva,
Switzerland,
Fax: +41 22 7330203,
Email: mission.iran@ties.itu.int
Your Excellency,
By this letter I would like to express my deepest concern about the safety of at least 12 Kurdish political activists, all feared to be at imminent risk of execution in Sanandaj prison. Almost all of them have reportedly been tortured, convicted of being a mohareb (”enemy of God”) and/or “endangering state security” and sentenced to death after unfair trials.
I urge you to commute the death sentence of Zeynab Jalaliyan (female), Shirkoh Moarefi, Habibollah Latifi, Farhad Chalesh, Ramezan Ahmad, Rostam Arkiya, Fasih Yasamini, Rashid Akhkandi, Hossein Khaziri, Farzad Kamangar, Ali Heydariyan and Farhad Vakili.
I would unite my voice with that of the General Assembly in its country-specific resolution on Iran adopted in November 2008, and call on Iran’s government to end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, including by releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political views.
I urge Iran to consolidate its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights for all, on an equal footing and without exception. Further, I urge the Iranian authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure that being a member of minority ethnicity did not become the reason for criminal punishment, especially executions, arrests or detention. Human rights violations due to intolerance and other forms of discrimination must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible be held accountable.
I further condemn any action or attempt by Iran or its public officials to legalise, authorise or acquiesce in torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under any circumstances, including on grounds of national security or through judicial decisions. According to the UN Assembly, acts of torture can constitute crimes against humanity and the perpetrators of all acts of torture must be prosecuted and punished. I call for a transparent and independent body to investigate allegations of torture and to prosecute those responsible for such violations.
Prisoners with health problems must be treated without forced intervention.
I hope for your urgent attention to this matter.
Yours sincerely,
Last Updated ( Saturday, 28 November 2009 )
Iranian Kurdish author to serve 15 months in prison 28.11.2009
KERMANSHAH,— Iranian Kurdish writer, Abbas Jalilian has been sent to Kermanshah prison to serve out a 15 month imprisonment term. He is accused by Iranian authorities of “activities against national security through identifying and attracting spies and introducing them to foreign countries.”
The 15-month prison term was approved by the appeals court last week.
Kaveh Kermanshahi, a human rights activist in Kurdistan, informed Zamaneh that Abbas Jalilian did not have an attorney in the preliminary hearing,www.ekurd.netand in every step of the legal proceedings, he denied the charges demanding to be shown evidence for the accusations. The appeals court reportedly approved the verdict of the preliminary hearing in its very first meeting.
Abbas Jalilian Iranian-Kurdish author to serve 15 months in prison
Mr. Jalilian was arrested last January and was released after two months on a $100,000 bail.
He is the author of several novels as well as poetry and proverb collections and a Kurdish-Persian dictionary.
Mr. Kermanshahi told Zamaneh that the alleged spy whom Jalilian is supposed to have identified and recommended is currently in custody but no charges have been laid against him yet. He is a cultural figure in Kermanshah and has travelled with Abbas Jalilian to southern regions of Iraqi Kurdistan on several occasions.
Abbas Jalilian had already been summoned by the Intelligence department for questioning regarding his cultural trips and his attendance in Kurdish literary congresses in Iraq.
Zamaneh has been told that all the trips and cultural activities of Mr. Jalilian were open and legal.
Human rights activists also report that another Kurdish writer, a member of the Literary Association of Marivan, Ali Mahmoudi has also been detained since October without any news. He has also been accused of “activity against national security through support of illegal groups.”
Parvin Zabihi, Ali Mahmoudi’s spouse, a women’s and children’s rights activist had also been called in for questioning by the Ministry of Intelligence and banned from travelling abroad.
Recently, Kurdish political activist, Ehsan Fatahian was executed in Sanadaj for “armed activities against the state.” The execution was protested by the people of the region as well as Kurdish MPs in Iranian parliament for several irregularities in the legal proceedings.
Currently 12 other Kurdish activists are on death row.
Human Rights Watch recently published a new report in 2009 detailing the repression of Iran’s Kurdish population by the Iranian government in Iranian Kurdistan (Eastern Kurdistan). In this report,www.ekurd.netthe Human Rights Watch strongly criticizes Iranian government for violating human rights and freedom of expression in Kurdistan. Kurds make up approximately 7 percent of the population and live mainly in the northwest regions of the country.
In a report released in July 2008, the human rights organisation, Amnesty International expressed concern about the increased repression of Kurdish Iranians, particularly human rights defenders.
The report cited examples of religious and cultural discrimination against the estimated 12 million Kurds who live in Iran.
“We urge the Iranian authorities to take concrete measures to end any discrimination and associated human rights violations that Kurds, indeed all minorities in Iran, face,” Amnesty said in its report.
“Kurds and all other members of minority communities in Iran, men, women and children, are entitled to enjoy their full range of human rights.”
MP: Kurds should watch out for fascist Turkish bacteria
According to Kaplan, the only party that celebrates the Islamic sacrifice feast in the Kurdish populated south-east, is the DTP, while Turkish MPs ignore the Kurdish border regions of Turkey. “Parliamentarians from Turkey don’t know what happens here and I don’t see signs of swine flu. There is no swine flu here, but this has stuck in Ankara and it’s surroundings.”
Kaplan warned the Kurdish people for two things: pigs and bad bacteria. “Bacteria that feed racism, bacteria that steal the identity of people, bacteria that differentiate between religions and fascist bacteria that regard themselves as the best.”
The Kurdish MP added, that the only recipe against the virus, is that the Kurdish people should form an unity and vote for the DTP (Photo: gucluhaber.com).
© Rudaw
EU draft motion urges Turkey to ensure Kurdish rights
Rudaw- A draft motion submitted to the EU parliament for the EU resolution on
Turkey’s progress report of 2009 by Ria Oomen-Ruijten welcomes the efforts of the Turkish government to resolve the Kurdish issue, but calls for more concrete measures to address the grievances of the Kurdish minority in Turkey. The adoption of the final resolution is scheduled in February 2010 and needs a majority vote of the EU parliament.
According to the motion, which can still be changed, the number of concrete reforms remained limited in 2009 and encouraged Turkey to translate its political initiatives into concrete changes of legislation and their subsequent implementation. The draft also deplores the reservation of Turkey to not sign laws concerned to the rights of the minorities and urged Turkey to foster a climate of respect towards minorities.
The EU motion talks about concrete measures, like ensuring real opportunities to learn Kurdish within the public and private schooling systems, reform proposals to stop the closure case against the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) before the Constitutional Court, allowing for Kurdish to be used in political life and in access to public services, changes in anti-terror laws that are misused to
restrict fundamental freedoms and to abolish the system of village guards in the south-east of Turkey. The EU motion also calls for increased efforts to limit abuses of the freedom of speech and press freedom and to increase the zero tolerance policy of torture.
The motion also urged the parliament to ensure immunity to all members of parliament, without discrimination, referring to court cases against Kurdish mps, while ignoring their immunity. The EU motion also condemned the ‘continuing violence perpetrated by the PKK and other terrorist groups on Turkish soil’. It called on the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to respond to the political initiative of the Turkish Government by laying down its arms and putting an end to violence.
The motion also welcomes improvements of the relations with Iraq and the Kurdish regional government, but stresses that “any anti-terrorist operation that is conducted fully respects Iraq´s territorial integrity, human rights and international law, and that civilian casualties are avoided.” It also welcomes Turkey’s signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Nabucco gas pipeline, “the implementation of which remains one of the EU's highest energy
security priorities”.
© Rudaw
Protests and parties during PKK 31st anniversary
Also in the Netherlands there were celebrations today in Rijswijk and on 5 December in Arnhem. Several Kurdish singers will participate in the event. In Turkey there were concerts, celebrations and firework. The pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party also participated in the events.
Most of the PKK-supporters also supported the Islamic feast of sacrifice. There were also demonstrations for the imprisoned PKK-leader Ocalan, who last week said his health conditions are worsening. The PKK’s executive council, KCK, called on the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the European Court for Human Rights to observer the PKK’s leaders prison conditions and to call on the government to improve it.
There were clashes between the Turkish police and Kurds in several cities in Turkey like in Istanbul and Mersin, but this also happened in Europe, like in Marseille (France) and Berlin (Germany). In Berlin a number of Kurdish youth set cars on fire.
According to Ali Haydar Kaytan, one of the founders of the PKK, the party has developed a resistance mentality among the Kurdish people, to prevent Kurds from assimilating and serving as slaves for the governments were they live.
© Rudaw
7.881 books of Ocalan have been confiscated at operations in 4 cities
| Submitted by Tsiatsan on Sunday, November 29 2009 |
Kurdish Info 24.11.2009 - Operations have been underway in 4 cities in order to confiscate the 4 volume book of Kurdish National Leader Abdullah Ocalan. 17 thousand and 881 bookshave been confiscated during the operations in Wan, Mersin, Adana and Izmir. Wan police confiscated 6 thousand books found in a vehicle in Sabaniye neighbourhood.Wan TUYAD-DER Chairman Ibrahim Ete, the provincial head of DTP WAN Haydar Atac, and the Chairman of Artos Food Association Sevket Abukan have been detained in relation to confiscated books. The detained individuals have been taken to the Security Headquarters of the province. The police teams in Adana also confiscated 5 thousand and 911 books in a cargo firm and in a car. Operations took place in Izmir’s Konak District with similar purposes. 2 thousand and 970 books have been confiscated and 2 people been detained. 3 thousand books have been confiscated at a transportation firm in Mersin.
Aram Publications: The Government demonstrated their insincerity
The Chief Editor of Aram Publications Bedri Adanir explained that the books have been confiscated without a warrant. According to Adanir, a censure was in question for months. The application they made for monopoly tax label have not received a reply for five months. Adanir reminded that the books have been confiscated while they were still in post or cargo and one of their friends have been detained. He said that “We decided that in relation to these developments, the government is as insincere as they are about their approach to the Kurdish question. Condemning the attitude of the state, Adanir called upon all intellectuals and sensitive individuals to demonstrate their democratic reaction.
Mehmet Ocalan:We have concluded the most difficult meeting of the last 10 years
| Submitted by Tsiatsan on Sunday, November 29 2009 |
Kurdish Info 21.11.2009- Ocalan’s brother Mehmet Ocalan also said that the meeting that they have been to this week “was the most difficult one that they have concluded in the last 10 years”. Mehmet Ocalan emphasised that of the total of half an hour of his speech 15 minutes have been about the conditions. He also delivered Ocalan’s statement that “My place is worse than the previous one. The situation is difficult. I cannot even breathe and feel sick. They have done worse while trying to do some good. This is no politics. This is what the public should be aware of”.Brother Ocalan added that, in terms of the situation of other prisoners Ocalan explained that “Their situation is difficult. The system has sacrificed them. They cannot endure this place. I asked the authorities but they said that we may be able to meet in a month’s time”. Brother Ocalan also said that they are all worried as a family.
Two Kurdish men in their 70s and a 10 year old child arrested in Syria for celebrating Eid al-Adha
• Hassan Abdul-Karim
• Ramadan Haji Hassan both in their 70’s,
• and the child, Juan Abdul Salam aged 10
These people live in the village Jallow in the Deyrik region, and were arrested by criminal security forces and were sent immediately to Political Security in Hassaka city.
They were arrested against the background of children enjoying traditional celebrations of Eid al-Adha including lighting fires and singing special songs for this festival.
International Support Kurds in Syria Association – SKS is calling for the international community, including USA and European Governments to take note of the on-going, frequent, abusive and intimidating behaviour of the authorities in Syria towards Kurds which includes arresting people indiscriminately on behalf of the Government. This is a powerful and controlling method of intimidating and threatening Kurds in their own homelands, using the State of Emergency to excuse these actions in breaking the law.
We endorse the recent report by Human Rights Watch ‘Group Denial’ http://supportkurds.org/reports/hrw-report-group-denial-repression-of-kurdish-political-
and-cultural-rights-in-syria/ and their call:
The international community can play a constructive role in promoting the rights of Kurds in Syria. So far, Syria’s crackdown on Kurdish activists has generally gone unnoticed internationally. This lack of interest by international policymakers has many causes, including the remoteness of the areas inhabited by the Syrian Kurds, restrictions imposed by the Syrian authorities, and the international community’s focus on Syria’s role in regional politics. However, ignoring the treatment of Kurds in Syria will not make the problem go away. The international community, in particular the United States and the European Union, which are both currently engaged in substantive talks with the Syrian government, should ensure that human rights concerns, including the treatment of Kurds, are part of their discussions with Syria. 26 November 2009
We want to impress upon the international community that ‘part of their discussions with Syria’ regarding human rights concerns need to hold significant weight in any discussions rather than be a comment in passing.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
BBC reports on Kurdish film festival
London - “A little slice of Kurdistan has come to Britain”, announced the BBC presenter recently. The Kurdish journalist Jiyar Gol reported for BBC on the Kurdish film festival taking place from 20 until 30th November in London. He says there is a new Kurdish cinema coming up.
The Kurdish Film Festival was launched 2001 with the support of Kurdish organizations. With more than 100 movies and high quality movies, that have won prizes, the festival aims to be a platform for both Kurdish and non-Kurdish producers and film makers. The festival has inspired other countries to organize similar festivals.
But many of the movie directors couldn’t come to London, because their visa’s were rejected. Jiyar Gol says the Kurdish film makers bring the past to live. Most of the films were hard hitting, with stories about prisons, torture, human rights violations and chemical attacks.
Bayan Abdul Rahman, representative of the Kurdish government in the UK hopes that Kurds will be able to pass the stage of telling these stories of violence and cruelty to the world. “We want to tell the world what happened to us.” She personally wishes, that new movies will tell positive stories, without forgetting the past, “because there is a great deal of hope in Kurdistan”.
© Rudaw
Kurdish MP from Turkey to visit House of Lords
London – Akin Birdal, an MP for the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) and a former Chairman of the Human Rights Association of Turkey (IHD) will speak on Wednesday 9 December on the Kurdish peace initiative of the government.
Birdal was an independent candidate for Diyarbakır during the general election in July 2007 and was voted into the parliament. He joined the DTP in parliament and is also a member of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee.
The meeting hosted by Lord Rea, will discuss the initiative of the ruling Islamic Justice and Development party (AKP) that has launched an initiative to solve the Kurdish question. The meeting will emphasize the ‘the Kurdish people’s overwhelming desire for a peaceful resolution’ and the need to include the PKK rebels and the PKK-leader Abdullah Ocalan in the process.
According to the organizers of evening, the Peace in Kurdistan Campaign, the AKP’s interest of achieving a solution remains in doubt and seems to be calculated to win the Kurdish vote in the forthcoming elections. The organizers say there is a need for a change in direction by Turkey. “The Kurds have demonstrated consistently that they want to resolve the conflict that has become too costly in both lives and resources.”
© Rudaw
Defend International supports Syrian Kurds
Oslo - Defend International urges Syria on Friday to put an end to all forms of harassment against its Kurdish minority, to investigate these abuses, to follow where evidence leads, and to punish those suspected of violating international law. Earlier Human Rights Watch also asked Syria to change it’s policies towards the Kurds.
Defend International is alarmed by reports that several Kurdish political prisoners have started a hunger strike to protest prison conditions, unfair trial practices and racial discrimination in the Adra prison near the Syrian capital Damascus. After having submitted numerous petitions to the government, they have since October 30 resorted to a hunger strike in a desperate attempt to get the attention of the government.
According to the human rights organization, the Kurds in Syria have suffered from systematic repression characterized by grave violations of their economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights, as well as death in custody under torture, indefinite detention without trial, disappearances, widespread arbitrary arrests, torture and other cruel, inhuman treatment or punishment.
Defend International is calling for urgent intervention by the Syrian authorities to put an end to all forms of harassment against its Kurdish minority and punish those suspected of violating international law. It also calls on Syria to ensure conditions of detention conform to international standards for the treatment of prisoners.
Defend International said it has contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross, High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, calling for their urgent intervention to meet the demands of the prisoners, to urge the Syrian authorities to immediately provide prisoners with medical attention if needed, and to protect them from any further torture or ill-treatment.
© Rudaw
PAJK's ‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women' stateme
We as PAJK call all women to combat the violence not just on November 25th but everyday of the year. We remind that the history of violence and domination began on woman 5 thousand years ago.
Today, violence against women has been spread in all areas of society. The violence is now far beyond physical violence because it has become psychological, spiritual, intellectual, and cultural, many women are exposed to all kinds of violence every day.
While exposing a form of violence the other format is encouraging women to offer their body in the sex labour market by institutionalizing this market. However, selling the sexual freedom of women's body and sex for money to the markets under the name of labour, prostitution is the deepest violence. They say ‘’I will physically save you from death but you have to be my capital with your body and your spirit’’
The only way to get rid of this depends on how much the women can defend belonging to their selves with their body and spirits. Women are not the property, object or product of any other entity than its self. The path to the freedom for women; the women-axis, democratic and ecological mother society before 5 thousand years ago should now be synthesized with today's scientific technical to construct a new social system''
We would like to draw attention to the campaign that took a year ‘we are women. We are not anyone's honour. Our honour is our freedom'.
During this period, important steps have been developed with the campaign, both awareness and an organizational and societal sexism has taken place towards liberation.
With the experience of this women's struggle, women can be free by basing their struggle on this gained knowledge.
Women should be aware of the change the female gender has come across within 5 thousand years with the mind of men, should get rid of fake freedom sayings, be able to stand alone from men, divorce him permanently from the mentality and build their own ideological - philosophical arguments. Without breaking from this dominant culture, it is impossible to experience love.
News: The Iranian authorities continue in persecution of the Kurds
28/11/2009
Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan reports on 26 November 2009 that Abbas Jalilian, a Kurdish researcher and author, was sent to Dizelabad prison in Kermanshah for 15 month in the beginning of this week.
This sentence was given to him in March 2009 by the Revolutionary court of Kermanshah and the verdict was confirmed last week by the appeal court. The charge that this Kurdish author faced was:"identifying and recruiting spies and introducing them to a foreign country". However, Mr Jalilian has denied this charge throughout the trial and has requested that the authorities produce their evidence against him.
The original trial was held without the presence of his lawyer. Surprisingly, Mr Jalilian received the confirmation of the sentence by the appeal court in the beginning of the appeal court trial
Abbas Jalilian's pen name is ‘Ako’ and he is the author of several books. He was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence's officials in December last year in the town of Islam Abad in Kermanshah province. He was freed on 100 million toman bail after two months.
Seminar: A brief visual history of the social and architectural transformation in cities of South Kurdistan
Following first KSSO seminar on urban regeneration in South Kurdistan in November 2008 at SOAS, Parwez has been continuing his research to document visually the important social and architectural transformation in Arbil, Slemani, Kerkuk,Koya, Dehuk and Sharazoor/Halabja. He will present his recently conducted visual documentation on the social and architectural transformation in cities of South Kurdistan and talk about the current urbanization policy of the Kurdish local and national government.
Speaker: Parwez Zabihi
Date and Time: 04 December 2009 at 7:00
Venue: B104 School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, (SOAS), Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG
The UK Kurdish Studies & Student Organisation is a non-political body that strives to promote greater awareness of the Kurds, their political and cultural situation in the Middle East and as a significant minority community in the UK.
Email: mc@ksso.org.uk
Website: www.ksso.org.uk
Report by HRW: Group Denial: Repression of Kurdish Political and Cultural Rights in Syria
28/11/2009
The 63-page report, "Group Denial: Repression of Kurdish Political and Cultural Rights in Syria," documents the Syrian authorities' efforts to ban and disperse gatherings calling for Kurdish minority rights or celebrating Kurdish culture, as well as the detention of leading Kurdish political activists and their ill-treatment in custody. The repression of Kurds in Syria has greatly intensified following large-scale Kurdish demonstrations in March 2004. The report is based on interviews with 30 Kurdish activists recently released from prison, as well as 15 relatives of Kurdish activists still in jail. The Syrian government refused to reply to requests for information or meetings with Human Rights Watch. To see the full report click the link below:
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/11/26/syria-end-persecution-kurds
KurdishMedia.com
Erdogan's and Gulen's inconsistent views about Turkey’s Kurdish problem: What they said then and what they say now
By Aland Mizell
28/11/2009
Prime Minister Erdogan has launched what he calls a comprehensive approach to ending the Kurdish problem in Turkey. The initiative includes greater cultural rights for Kurds and some kind of semi-autonomy or local autonomy. In politics nothing happens by accident. If it happens, it is because it was planned that way. Yes, I support the program because it is the right thing to do, but why is the initiative being launched now? The answer is very simple. First, if Turkey wants to be a player and a leader in the Muslim world, Turkey must solve the Kurdish problem. Secondly, the Americans will leave Iraq soon, and Turkey wants to play a role in that region. Third, the majority of Kurds who live in Turkey are Sunni Muslim, and Erdogan needs their vote. The program is not because of Prime Minister Erdogan’s speech in the Turkish Parliament in early November defending a Kurdish democratic initiative. If he really means it, why did he not speak out when Leyla Zana and some other Kurds published an announcement in the French press saying that Turkey should become a truly democratic country which respects cultural variety and political pluralism? Instead, the Prime Minister said this was paramount to suicide. But Erdogan and his circles do not understand that what Kurds have wanted all along is equal justice for all, equality for all. Is the idea of democracy not that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it if they work hard for it? Kurds deserve justice and equality. False history gets made all day, but the truth of the new is never in the news.
Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is. Hypocrisy and distortion are passing currently under the name of religion. None of Fethullah Gulen’s media will print anything contrary to its own interests. Let’s hear what Mr. Gulen said about Leyla Zana’s democratic initiative and then what his journalists say now. “The views of politicians are not always as definitive as the law. But it is impossible not to agree with what Mr. Tayyip Erdogan said. ‘Regardless of how many ethnic groups there may be, whether it is Turks, Kurds, Circassians, Lazs, Georgians, Abkhazians or Gypsies, we have respect and love for all,’ Erdogan said.”
Mr.Gulen has gone on record saying that the second and eighth presidents of Turkey were Kurds, but he does not realize that when, if ever, those presidents- Inonu and Turgut Ozal- publically said they were Kurds or ever mentioned their being Kurdish, they would have been denounced. It is true, though, that for a long time if a person said, “I am a Turk,” no problem resulted, but when he or she said, “I am a Kurd,” that immediately became a problem. Mr. Gulen continued saying that many of the citizens from the east and southeast of Turkey have assumed important positions in various offices of the government: soldiers, governors, and mayors. Mr. Gulen was admitting this reality, but with no mention of what deprivations are being suffered, such that demands by Zana and others are proposed to counter the Kurds’condition. Mr. Gulen not only ignored the fact of past sufferings and the reality of current conditions, but also denied them and asked Leyla Zana to apologize. He admits, “I would expect them to return this gesture by saying, ‘We have been mistaken for our nation in the past, we were moved by our youth’; they should have taken a path that lead to unity and integrity. This did not happen. They owe an apology to the public” .
Mr. Gulen said that the demands listed in that announcement were disrespectful and also that 95 % do not ask for such demands, nor do they think there is such injustice or problems. He announced that Erdogan’s administration had made conciliatory efforts toward those who had perpetrated “the terror.” According to Mr. Gulen, only 500 people think such injustice exists, but today ironically the Democratic Society Party (DTP), the third party in the Turkish Parliament, represents them. They are the party that has been pushing for this fairness for more than a decade, not Erdogan. For those who ignore and deny the Kurd’s plight, and indeed say that there is no such thing as a Kurdish problem or injustice, they are the ones who owe the apology to the Kurdish people and to the public. Leaders who sent this confusing message to their followers should apologize for being ignorant about decades of Kurdish suffering.
I do believe that every calling is great when greatly pursued. Our ideas, however, must be grounded in reality, be such reality concrete or abstract; our ideas must develop out of facts and out of principles. The Prime Minister often seems to be trying to be all things to all people. Morality becomes hypocrisy unless it means accepting the Kurdish people’s suffering; accepting that the Kurdish people live in misery. In 1994, the Kurdish Parliamentarian Leyla Zana was jailed for treason for taking the oath of office in her Kurdish language and spent a decade in prison. I wonder what kind of eye cannot see, what kind of ear cannot hear, and what kind of conscience cannot feel the suffering the Kurdish people have gone through. The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in the moment of good and comfort, but where he stands at the time of challenges, difficulties and, controversies. Mr. Gulen, you must be very famous; you are now one of the hundred most intellectual people in the world; perhaps you will soon get the Nobel Peace Prize as well. You must know lots of things, but the Kurdish people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care about them. What did you do for them during their suffering? Did you cry for them?
Where did Gulen and Erdogan stand then? When so many Kurdish people could not study in their mother language, did they speak out in theirs? More than 30 thousand--mostly Kurdish people--lost their lives in the conflict, more than 5000 villages were burned or otherwise destroyed; thousands of Kurdish people were forced to leave their homes to move to city ghettos to survive; thousands of Kurds were kidnapped and no one knows their fate; many women were raped, tortured, and degraded. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about justice and cruelty. How can they see mothers, children, men, and women whose faces show the suffering of the Kurdish people? Yet you, Mr. Gulen, managed to escape to America, the land of freedom; now you manage your empire from there; you write and talk about Allah and the suffering of the Turkish people; you cried for the Turkish people in Central Asia, Central Europe, and around the world, but how could you not feel sadness for Ugur’s mother whose 13 year-old son was shot by the police? You talk about Allah, justice, democracy, and human rights, but how can you ignore the Kurdish people and still claim there is no problem? If you look at their real plight, how can you talk about morality, interfaith dialogue, respect, love, and tolerance while denying the Kurdish people’s suffering? The Kurds are denied their identity, their culture, their language, their naming their own children, their using their own land, and their living in freedom and security
The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. If a person is careless with the truth in small matters, he cannot be trusted with the important matters. The other day Prime Minister Erdogan used the word massacre because he was criticizing a remark that Onur Oymen of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) made during a plenary session in the Turkish Parliament. The Prime Minister had issued a statement about Armenia and Darfur and said that Muslims cannot commit a massacre. Were those who killed so many Alevi Kurds not Muslim? The Dersim debate in the Turkish Parliament, evoking memories of the republican military’s suppression of a rebellion during Ataturk’s era, means Erdogan is not being consistent and honest but instead is trying to take advantage and engage in political exploitation of the Dersim revolt for electoral gain. But people should reevaluate Mr. Erdogan’s and Gulen’s real agenda. I do believe Oymen’s comments were not conciliatory or wise, but I do not think it is a good for Erdogan to use it for political show. What about the Armenian Genocide or the Kurds in Southeastern Turkey?
Prime Minister Erdogan has an inconsistent view of Kurdish issues. When Ahmet Turk, the leader of the DPT and Kurdish rights activist, addressed Parliament, he spoke in his native language, a natural result of the Kurds’ oppression and of many of them not knowing any other language. The state television immediately stopped broadcasting the speech. During his visit to Russia in 2002, Prime Minister Erdogan in answering a group of journalists about the Kurdish problem said that there is no such thing as a Kurdish problem in Turkey. Prime Minister, if you believe that there is no such problem, then there will be a problem. Erdogan denied that such a problem exists. But in a recent speech in Parliament the Prime Minister asked the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Republican People’s Party (CHP) about this problem. It has been a problem for more than 25 years, but you, Mr. Erdogan, have not done anything about it during your administration. In a state visit to Norway in 2005, Erdogan, speaking of Turkey’s diversity, said he is married to an Arab from Siirt, and that they have inter marriage, so they do not have a problem. But then before his trip to Diyarbakir in 2008, Erdogan commented on what now will happen to the Kurdish question. He said, “It will be my question” and explained that “the Kurds can say ‘I am a Kurd,’ Turks could say ‘I am Turk,’ and Laz could say,’ I am a Laz.’” But when Erdogan visited the USA, again, he denied the Kurdish problem, saying, “There is no Kurdish problem” and giving the example that he has been married to an Arab for 29 years and that they do not have any problems, so there is no problem in Turkey.
In 2007 when the Turkish government launched the military campaign against the PKK, Erdogan refused to meet with Barzani and claimed that Turkey recognizes the Iraq central government and therefore that he could not meet with a tribal leader, but recently Erdogan invited Barzani to Turkey and sent his Foreign Minister Gul to visit a tribal leader. In 2008, in his speech in Hakkari, Erdogan announced, “We have said, ‘One nation, one flag, one motherland and one state.’ They are opposed to this. Those who oppose this should leave.” How clever is the Prime Minister. He never means a single word that he says. We say to him, “You can fool some of the Kurdish people all the time and all of them some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”
“Erdoan’s Parliament address Democratic Initiative” Hurriyet Planet. Nov. 14, 2009.
http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/planet/12946282.asp?gid=286
“Identity, Kurd Issue, and Central Asia.” Fethullah Gulen website, Jan. 13, 2005. http://www.fethullahgulen.org/press-room/mehmet-gundems-interview/1916-identity-kurd-issue-and-central-asia.html
“Erdogan’s Comment Rattle Kurds in Diyarbakir.” Today’s Zaman. Nov. 4, 2008. http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=157780&bolum=103
Dr. Aland Mizell is a regular KurdishMedia.com writer and is with the MCI and can be contacted at aland_mizell1@hotmail.com