Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyer, İbrahim Bilmez, has argued that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader’s ideas could significantly change the Kurds’ destiny and that his imprisonment is deeply political. Bilmez’s conversation with Sarah Glynn, published on Wednesday at ocalanvigil.net, sheds light on Öcalan’s influence, the legal fight for his rights and the importance of international solidarity.
“He is someone who could change the destiny of the Kurds,” Bilmez explained, highlighting Öcalan’s transformative impact. He added, “In the 1970s, when Mr Öcalan and his comrades began to defend their rights, Kurds recovered their self-belief and their hope.” This period marked a significant shift towards empowerment and recognition for the Kurdish people.
The lawyer emphasised Öcalan’s broader vision: “Mr Öcalan didn’t limit himself to the Kurdish question. He developed solutions and perspectives for the whole Middle East.” Öcalan’s approach, according to Bilmez, offers “the best proposals for a realistic solution for the Middle East and even beyond.”
Discussing Öcalan’s confidence in resolving the Kurdish question, Bilmez said: “Mr Öcalan knows that he has vast knowledge about Turkey, Kurdistan and the Middle East. He trusts himself.” This self-assurance stems from Öcalan’s deep understanding of the region’s complexities, according to Bilmez.
Bilmez also touched on the intertwined nature of legal and political efforts, asserting, “Since the court is political, we also need a political struggle. Solidarity in Turkey and Kurdistan and outside, is very important.” He further explained the political dimensions of Öcalan’s case: “The case of Mr Öcalan is a big case because it is related to the Kurdish Question and has been political from the beginning.”
The conversation delved into the European Court of Human Rights’ 2005 ruling and Turkey’s response, revealing systemic issues within international legal frameworks. “Turkey argued that if they did this, the final decision would be the same, and the Committee decided, without participation of the lawyers, that there was no need to go through the process,” Bilmez noted.
Bilmez highlighted the worsening conditions and isolation faced by Öcalan, adding, “We can’t get any information.” He also criticised Turkey’s approach to the Kurdish question: “Turkey doesn’t want a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish Question because of their own security politics.”
Concluding, Bilmez emphasised the crucial role of global support: “More important than the western states, is the international democratic community raising their voices and showing solidarity,” underscoring the need for a collective effort to address the challenges faced by Öcalan and the Kurdish people.
