AMED - Saying that PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan, "symbolizes a struggle for freedom", Swedish lawyer Yasmin Sazvar said: "Every person has the right to communicate to their family, to their lawyers."

 

The campaign launched in Europe and the world for the freedom of PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is held in absolute isolation conditions in Imralı F-Type High Security Prison, and for the political solution of the Kurdish issue has entered its second phase. While lawyers, politicians, intellectuals and writers from many countries are working to ensure Ocalan's freedom, the "International Delegation of Lawyers Against Isolation", held a series of contacts in Amed and Istanbul in the past days. Swedish lawyer Yasmin Sazvar, a member of the International Commission of Jurists, is among the delegation that will compile a report on their contacts, shared her impressions of their visit.

 

'FAMILY AND LAWYER MEETING IS A RIGHT'

 

Finding it worrying that there has been no news from PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan for 3 years, Sazvar said: "I hope that we can find a way to solve this. There could be some pressure for the Turkish Government to cut the isolation and the silence because every person has the right to communicate to their family, to their lawyers, and has the right for just trip just trial.”

 

Swedish lawyer Yasmin Sazvar

 

'A SYMBOL OF STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM’

 

Drawing attention to Ocalan's position and leadership, Sazvar said: "He is also inspiring others, both women and men. We talked to the woman's organization, they said that some men intellectually get inspired and learn from his teachings in a way so I think good role models in all sense will inspire people."

 

'WE WILL GO BACK AND SPREAD THE WORLD'

 

Emphasizing that the visits were very emotional and impressive for her, Sazvar continued as follows: "We will write a report and we will also go back to our home countries and report about all the very touching stories and firsthand information that we got. I will definitely share this, and I think everyone in this delegation will go back and spread the world. Since Sweden is entering NATO, the big conflict in the NATO entering process was the dialogue with Erdogan and the Turkish Government. Turkey telling Swedish government, they're very PKK friendly. So, the question has been raised also in Swedish media, and I think there's more focus and awareness. In this context, it's a good part to share what we heard here.”

 

Referring to the impressions they received as a delegation regarding the pressures on the native language, Sazvar said: "As a world citizen and a world traveler, I am worried for the Kurdish people and the Kurdish language because as I heard, Kurds are not allowed to speak their language or teachers aren't teaching them in their native language, but this is also human rights. I've never seen a situation like this in other places in the world.”

 

MA / Müjdat Can