Swiss Federal Parliament Member Laurence Fehlmann Rielle has likened the imprisoned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan to Nelson Mandela and called for international efforts to end his isolation.
Speaking with Medya News’ Serkan Demirel on the matter, Rielle emphasised the necessity of mobilising the international community to address Öcalan’s freedom and the conditions of his imprisonment in İmralı Island Prison, where he has been held under severe isolation for over 25 years.
Rielle’s comments come amid growing movements demanding “Freedom for Öcalan” and political solutions to the Kurdish issue, further amplified by the global campaign initiated on 10 October last year. These movements, supported by millions from Kurdish regions to Europe, have placed significant pressure on governments to reconsider their stance on the Kurdish leader’s imprisonment.
The Swiss MP’s initiative in the Federal Council aims to draw attention to Öcalan’s inhumane detention conditions, highlighting a lack of communication with his family and legal team in recent years. “It is imperative that Switzerland takes action against the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan, a condition tantamount to torture,” Rielle stated, underlining the importance of Öcalan in negotiating a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish question.
Concerns were also raised regarding the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture’s (CPT) stance, with Rielle criticising its failure to visit İmralı and directly assess the conditions faced by Öcalan and other political prisoners. This lack of engagement from the CPT and the broader international community raises serious questions about the commitment to preventing torture and supporting human rights.
Rielle further advocated for Öcalan’s freedom as a key to resolving the Kurdish issue, suggesting a direct correlation between his isolation and the ongoing conflict in regions like Rojava (northern Syria). “Everyone must engage with the 10 October initiative for freedom and political solutions,” Rielle urged, highlighting the global significance of the campaign for Öcalan’s release and the hopeful path it represents towards peace and reconciliation.