Bethnahrin National Council promotes democracy in Turkey, calls for end to isolation of Abdullah Öcalan

ZURICH — The Bethnahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo D’Bethnahrin, MUB) institutions in Zürich, Switzerland, have issued a statement condemning the nearly two-year isolation of Abdullah Öcalan, the Kurdish leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê, PKK), and calling for an end to the oppressive policies of the Turkish government led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The statement highlighted the blatant violations of Öcalan’s human and legal rights, including denial of access to his lawyer and family. It also underscored the broader racist policies employed by the Turkish government against various ethnic and religious groups, alleging the targeted detention and pressure on Christians, Yezidis, and refugees until their complete obliteration.

The government’s tactics, including violence in prisons, extrajudicial executions, and systematic isolation, are decried by the MUB as contradicting the principles of democracy and freedom of opinion in Turkey. The statement accused the government of imposing a climate of fear and intimidation on society, leading to the arrest and forced absence of journalists and politicians who oppose these measures.

The MUB also drew attention to a special military war waged across the region and threats against community and opposition activists by groups affiliated with the Turkish government. Additionally, it asserted that proxies from Syria, Afghanistan, and within Turkey are recruited by the government for attacks and illegal activities.

The Bethnahrin National Council called upon the international community to press Erdogan’s government to lift the isolation on Öcalan. The statement urged the application of humanitarian laws, the facilitation of meetings with lawyers and family, and the opportunity for Öcalan to present his ideas to the public.

In a bid to address ethnic and social issues in Turkey, the MUB advocated for a meeting with government representatives and the adjustment of working conditions and human potential to secure Öcalan’s release from İmralı island.