In Urfa, legal advocates have urged the state to respond to the significant ‘Call for Peace and a Democratic Society’ by releasing political prisoners. This call, issued by Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan and the Imrali Delegation, has remained unanswered for over a month, despite its global recognition and the hope it has instilled. Legal organisations, including the Association of Lawyers for Freedom and the Human Rights Association, emphasise the need for swift state action to ensure meaningful outcomes.
Advocates are calling for Ocalan’s physical freedom, with Yasin Aktas, Co-Chair of the OHD Urfa branch, stating that Turkey should declare a ceasefire and withdraw military forces from the Federated Kurdistan Region. He insists that for effective progress, Ocalan should be allowed physical meetings with his lawyers and family. Following that, there is an urgent need to release seriously ill prisoners and implement reforms focusing on the rights of all political detainees.
Serdil Izol from the IHD lauds the value of Ocalan’s message, calling for political prisoners, particularly those with health concerns, to be released through legal reforms. He stresses the need to amend current judicial injustices and initiate a new constitutional drafting process that includes those previously alienated by the law, especially regarding convictions tied to political beliefs.
Despite Ocalan’s call for peace and a ceasefire by the PKK, Ferhat Oldurur from the Urfa Bar Association’s Human Rights Center notes the state’s inaction in response to these developments. He advocates for securing Ocalan’s freedom through legal reforms, referencing a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights that acknowledges the ‘right to hope.’ Oldurur insists that a comprehensive restructuring of the constitution towards inclusive citizenship is essential, along with fulfilling demands for mother-tongue education in Kurdish, engaging the public and legal experts in the reform process, particularly regarding prisons.
Legal advocates in Urfa have urged the state to respond to Abdullah Ocalan’s call for peace by releasing political prisoners. They stress the importance of ensuring Ocalan’s physical freedom, enacting legal reforms for ill prisoners, and addressing judicial injustices. The advocates highlight the necessity of a new constitution that ensures inclusive citizenship rights and supports mother-tongue education in Kurdish.
The plea from Urfa’s legal advocates highlights the urgent need for the state to respond to Ocalan’s call, focusing on releasing political prisoners and initiating legal reforms. The steps proposed include granting Ocalan physical freedom and addressing the needs of ill detainees, as well as revising unjust judicial practices. Engaging in a comprehensive constitutional reform to ensure rights for all, particularly regarding political beliefs, is seen as essential for fostering peace and inclusion.
Original Source: anfenglish.com
