The arrest warrant against Nihat Asut has been suspended by the Third Criminal Division of the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court in Hamburg. The Kurdish man had been held in prison since his arrest in March and was released on Friday morning. His family and some friends greeted him outside the prison.
Following his release, Nihat Asut made a brief statement, expressing his happiness at regaining his freedom but describing his feelings as “bittersweet.”
“Thousands of our friends, foremost Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, remain in prison. As I stated during the court proceedings, European states must fulfill their duties and responsibilities to support the peace and democracy process initiated by Abdullah Öcalan.”
Asut emphasized that it is impossible to give up one’s identity, mother tongue, and cultural rights, stating, “If I were to come back to this world again, I would still want to come as a child of this people.”
“I hope that all our friends who are unjustly detained will regain their freedom as soon as possible,” Asut said, thanking everyone who showed solidarity.
While the suspension of the arrest warrant was subject to strict conditions, Asut’s trial for membership of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which began on September 10, will continue. Until further notice, Asut must report to the police twice a week at his residence near Hanover, is not allowed to leave Germany, and is prohibited from engaging in any activities on behalf of the PKK/KCK. This includes the instruction not to participate in demonstrations, events, or fundraising activities.
The next hearing against Nihat Asut and another Kurdish activist from Lübeck will take place on November 5 at the Higher Regional Court in Hamburg. The verdict is expected to be announced in December.
The hearings are set to take place on November 5, 6, 17, 19, 27, and 28, as well as December 2 and 3.