“Since 2019, [Abdullah] Öcalan has been denied the right to meet with his lawyers, and since 2021 he has been denied any contact with his family,” stated Abigail Boyd, Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) for the Greens in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, on Monday, in a powerful speech that brought the issue of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan’s isolation to the attention of the NSW parliament. She stressed that this treatment is a clear violation of both Turkish and international law.
Boyd condemned Öcalan’s continued solitary confinement, noting that he has been isolated for almost three years without any contact with his family or legal representatives. She emphasised that Öcalan, a key figure in the Kurdish struggle for justice, has been denied basic rights, a situation that constitutes a clear breach of legal standards.
Boyd called for international solidarity and action, urging Australia to take a stand. “Australia has a responsibility to speak out against this oppressive and undemocratic treatment,” she asserted, calling on the government to condemn Öcalan’s treatment and advocate for his basic human rights.
Describing Öcalan as symbolic to the Kurdish people, the MP said: “He represents over 100 years of Kurdish resistance against an oppressive Turkish state. Öcalan is a beacon of hope for Kurds around the world, including those in Australia.”
Boyd also highlighted the launch of the global campaign “Freedom for Öcalan: A Political Solution to the Kurdish Question”, the Australian element of which was organised by the Federation of Democratic Kurdish Society Australia.
The Australian element was officially launched on 11 October 2023 outside NSW Parliament House. It was supported by numerous organisations and individuals, including the Democratic Kurdish Community Centre of NSW, the Sydney Kurdish Youth Association and several members of the Kurdish diaspora. Notable attendees included Greens MPs Kobi Shetty and Lee Rhiannon, Labor MP Nathan Hagarty and the Reverend Bill Crews.
The campaign calls for a resolution that would allow Öcalan to resume contact with his family and lawyers and ultimately be released. Boyd stressed, ‘We must not compromise on Mr Öcalan’s human rights and freedom. Australia has a duty to stand in solidarity with the Kurdish community and support the campaign for his release”.
She concluded by urging the Australian government to take a firm stand. “It is vital that Australia stands in solidarity with the Kurdish people and supports a peaceful and democratic solution to the Kurdish question,” she stressed.
