On 18 March 2014, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Abdullah Öcalan’s sentencing to aggravated life imprisonment without any possibility of conditional release violated the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), a principle referred to as the “right to hope.” The court called on Turkey to make legal amendments accordingly. In subsequent decisions, the ECtHR ruled similarly in the cases of prisoners Hayati Kaytan, Emin Gurban, and Civan Boltan. However, despite the passing of 11 years, Turkey has failed to take any steps to comply with the ruling. On 9 August 2022, the Asrin Law Office, the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), the Human Rights Association (IHD), the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV), and the Foundation for Society and Legal Studies (TOHAV) submitted a joint application to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe demanding implementation of the ECtHR decision. In its response to the Committee, the Turkish government claimed that “inmates sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment may be eligible for conditional release; however, certain crimes are exceptionally excluded from this possibility.” During its session held on 17–19 September 2024, the Committee of Ministers placed the ECtHR’s violation rulings back on its agenda for the first time in three years and urged the Turkish government to take the necessary measures without further delay. The Committee also warned that if no progress is made, it will prepare an interim resolution at its session in September 2025.
On 15 September, the Committee of Ministers began a session to monitor the implementation of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. The ongoing proceedings for the introduction of the ‘Right to Hope’ in Turkey will also be discussed at this meeting. The Committee will also evaluate whether Turkey has fulfilled its obligations regarding the “Right to Hope” for Abdullah Öcalan, Emin Gurban, Civan Boltan, and Hayati Kaytan.
Coinciding with the first day of the Committee of Ministers session, Kurds and their friends launched a vigil in front of the Council of Europe building in Strasbourg yesterday, demanding the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and the implementation of the “Right to Hope” in his case.
The sit-in protest continues on its second day. Today’s demonstration featured a series of activities marking the third anniversary of the murder of Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini by the Iranian regime’s “morality police” and the “Jin jiyan Azadî” [Woman, Life, Freedom] uprising. Women staged a silent theater performance to protest the murder of Jina Amini. This was followed by a minute of silence in memory of Jina Amini and those who fell as martyrs in the struggle for women’s freedom.
The Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe (TJK-E) read a press statement, which said, “We have been protesting here since yesterday. Our protest has a different theme each day. We are here for the freedom of our leader. At the same time, the presence of the Kurdish Women’s Movement here is even more meaningful and significant. We will be here for a week to voice our demands.”
Speaking on behalf of TJK-E, Kezban Doğan said, “On the third anniversary of Jina Amini’s murder, we respectfully commemorate her, as well as Emine Erciyes, a pioneer of the women’s struggle, and all women who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom. Leader Öcalan said, “Hope is greater than all achievements.” We women know this best. For 5,000 years, the patriarchal system, religion, and ideologies have made life a prison for us women. Even living has become an issue for us. However, Leader Öcalan became the hope of women by saying, “Society cannot be free without women being free. This phrase has been the lifeblood and inspiration for struggle for us Kurdish women, spreading across the world through great sacrifice. “Jin Jiyan Azadî” is not merely a slogan; it is a stance born of labor, sacrifice, and the re-creation of woman. Jina Amini was murdered by the fascist regime in Iran simply because a few strands of her hair were visible. This murder became the last straw. “Jin Jiyan Azadî” spread from Iran to the world. It became the hope of women. For two days now, we have been here in front of the Council of Europe demanding the “right to hope” and freedom for Leader Öcalan. The “right to hope” exists in all the laws of the rulers but this right is not granted to Leader Öcalan. For us women, Leader Öcalan is the hope of women, peoples, and faiths. You cannot take this hope away from us. Until the right to hope is implemented, we Kurdish women will continue to fight for freedom.”
Following the statement, the crowd chanted the slogan “Jin Jiyan Azadi”.
As part of the ongoing activities in front of the Council of Europe demanding physical freedom and the “right to hope” for Öcalan, Ayşe Acar Başaran gave a seminar.
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