Kisten Govender, lawyer for Nelson Mandela, highlighted the symbolic significance of both Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan and former South African President Nelson Mandela as beacons of hope for the oppressed, emphasising the need for greater awareness and advocacy in South Africa for the Kurdish cause.
“First and foremost, it is a declaration of intent,” Govender, a member of the International Lawyers Delegation Against Isolation, stated, marking the 33rd anniversary of the Raperîn Uprising as a pivotal moment of collective resilience and defiance against current tyranny in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).
Öcalan and Mandela had narrowly missed an opportunity to meet in 1999 when the PKK leader was apprehended by MOSSAD and Turkish intelligence en route to South Africa, Govender recalled.
“If the meeting between Abdullah Öcalan and Mandela had taken place, South Africa could have played a more active role in resolving the Kurdish issue,” he lamented. South Africa’s experience in overcoming apartheid would have been valuable for towards fostering coexistence and justice in the Middle East.
A conference has been held between the Delegation of International Lawyers Against Isolation and the Turkey-based Association of Lawyers for Freedom, focusing (https://t.co/4wx89M9jvL) on the continued isolation of Abdullah Öcalan. pic.twitter.com/4IHDUK3GhA
— MedyaNews (@medyanews_) March 4, 2024
Govender drew parallels between Mandela’s imprisonment for 27 years on Robben Island, and Öcalan’s isolated detention on Imrali Island for over 25 years. “Their continued existence serves as a beacon of hope, and people cling to this idea,” he noted, underscoring the deep symbolic and inspirational connection between the two leaders.
Govender went onto suggest that had Öcalan made it to South Africa for the meeting, Mandela would have echoed to Kurds his famous quote of solidarity with Palestinians.
“As long as Kurdistan is not free, the world, including South Africa, can never be truly free,” Govender postulated.
“Mandela had certain privileges… such as seeing his wife once a month, possibly writing a letter once a month, and being able to see his lawyers. These were basic human rights, and they could not take that away from him,” Govender explained, highlighting the severe isolation experienced by Öcalan on Imrali Island.
The South African attorney concluded with a call for action: “What we need to do now in South Africa is create more awareness about the problems of the Kurds and make more noise.”
