Professor Norman Paech, an international law scholar based in Germany, has declared that the ongoing incommunicado detention of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan is contrary to international law, urging UN-level action. Speaking to the Firat News Agency (ANF) on Sunday, he said that the conditions of Öcalan’s imprisonment are in direct contravention of the principles of legal supremacy expected by the UN.
Professor Paech explained that Öcalan has been uncontactable by family or legal counsel for over three years, highlighting a severe breach of international standards. This was confirmed during his own attempt to visit Öcalan in Turkey, when he was faced with constant obstruction.
Paech emphasised the broader context of his criticism: The inertia of the international community, particularly within NATO and the Turkish government, underlines a political reluctance to confront Turkey due to its strategic position against refugee flows from conflict zones like Syria and Afghanistan.
The professor also criticised the designation of the PKK as a terrorist organisation in Europe, a label contradicted by recent rulings in Belgium and Switzerland. He argued that this misclassification hampers genuine political dialogue about Kurdish autonomy—a fundamental democratic right.
Lastly, Paech touched on allegations of Turkey’s use of chemical weapons against the Kurds in Syria, stressing that these acts are violations both of sovereignty and of international humanitarian laws. He called for immediate and thorough investigation by international bodies to ensure accountability and transparency in the face of these serious allegations.
