The global campaign “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, political solution to the Kurdish issue” has elevated Abdullah Öcalan’s global profile, challenging Turkey’s efforts to suppress the issue, Professor Norman Beach stated in an interview with ANHA journalist Jihan Balkin on Sunday.
Beach, an international law expert and Professor Emeritus at the University of Hamburg, shared insights on the campaign “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, political solution to the Kurdish issue”, initiated on 10 October 2023 across 74 global cities, focusing on the isolation of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan, imprisoned in Imrali, Turkey.
Beach highlighted the campaign’s role in raising global awareness about Öcalan, showing that he is recognised and supported well beyond Kurdistan. He emphasised the importance of dialogue in resolving conflicts, referencing his 1996 meeting with Öcalan in Damascus where they discussed democratic confederation and Öcalan’s belief that peace can only be achieved through negotiation.
Criticising the conditions of Öcalan’s imprisonment, Beach pointed out that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has condemned both Öcalan’s trials and the conditions of his imprisonment as unfair, violating Articles 5 and 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. He lamented the failure to implement the decisions of the ECHR and urged European countries to take the necessary steps against these violations.
Beach called for European countries to intervene seriously with the Turkish government, insisting on the implementation of laws related to human rights and fair trials. He encouraged citizens to demand their governments enforce these laws and end policy double standards.
“The campaign showed that Abdullah Öcalan is now known outside the borders of Kurdistan and in the world, and is being defended against the interests of the state surrounding Turkey. This step would strengthen the resistance and thwart the Turkish state’s efforts to keep this issue out of public opinion,” Beach added.
In his career, Beach has served as a Member of Parliament and as foreign affairs spokesman for Die Linke (The Left) party, and he has been involved in various roles supporting human rights and international law. His work, including discussions on Öcalan’s model on conflict resolution, reflects his commitment to addressing international legal issues and advocating for human rights.
