The Kurdistan Human Rights Action Group (KHRAG) of South Africa
The Kurdistan Human Rights Action Group (KHRAG) of South Africa has learnt with great disquiet and shock of the recent police raids by the Belgium authorities on the offices of legitimate organisations and institutions of the Kurdish people in Brussels. The Belgium police also raided the homes and
offices of the leaders of the Kurdish people in Brussels. We learnt with concern and consternation of the arrest and detention of some of the leaders of the Kurdish people in Brussels, the seat of the European Union.
The raids on these organisations and the arrests of the leaders of the Kurdish people in Brussels are a violation of the fundamental human rights entrenched in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The right to freedom of association, freedom of expression including freedom of the press and the right to liberty and security have been violated by these raids and arrests. The Kurdish people are entitled to exercise their right to self-determination in accordance with International Law and International Human Rights Instruments and Protocols. Such activities can under no circumstances be regarded as terrorist activities.
Reverend Matthew Esau, an executive member of KHRAG, on 2-4 February 2010 attended the 6th International Conference on European Union, Turkey and the Kurds at the European Parliament in Brussels. The conference organised by the European Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) had as its theme: "Turkey and the Kurdish Conflict: Political Dialogue and Peace-Building. Reverend Esau met a number of activists on both sides of the Kurdish and Turkish divide, who are intimately involved in efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish question in Turkey.
It is unfortunate that some of the Kurdish leaders he met and who unequivocally committed themselves to the peaceful resolution of the Kurdish
question are now victims of the raids and arrests in Brussels.
KHRAG SA calls upon the Belgium authorities;
- To promote and protect the fundamental rights of the Kurdish people both inside and outside Belgium
- We call upon the Belgium authorities to forthwith release all those that have been arrested and detained in the raids.
- We call upon the Belgium authorities to return all the assets confiscated from these organisations and the leaders, particularly from RojTV,
- To ensure that Kurdish organisations and their leaders pursue their legitimate activities and are afforded protection from illegitimate police raids.
