Lawyer Mistefa Şêx Mislim spoke to ANF about Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan’s right to hope and the Turkish state’s anti-legal stance. He said that the occupying Turkish state does not apply the law and acts solely in its own interests.
Mistefa Şêx Mislim noted that Öcalan has been held hostage unlawfully for 27 years, saying, “Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) represents a people and fights for the rights of peoples. After he was taken hostage, he was tried like a criminal. Still, he stood up to resolve the general problem of the peoples of the Middle East and became the address for a solution internationally. In his latest statements, Leader Apo emphasized that the brotherhood between Kurds and Turks is based on a history of thousands of years.”
Emphasizing that it is now time for the Turkish state to take action, Mistefa Şêx Mislim said, “Many serious and historic steps have been taken by Leader Apo and the PKK; historic processes such as ceasefire declaration, disarmament initiatives, and most recently, the withdrawal of the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla from Northern Kurdistan. However, no serious steps have been taken by the occupying Turkish state so far. The time has come; the Turkish state must also take steps. Leader Apo has become the voice of oppressed peoples. His freedom is being discussed weakly in Turkey. This issue must now be addressed openly and decisively, and concrete steps must be taken.”
Mistefa Şêx Mislim stressed that Öcalan’s physical freedom must be secured, saying, “Leader Apo must be granted his ‘right to hope’, which the Turkish state has long ignored. The ‘right to hope’ is a universal right and must now be taken into account. The Turkish state, however, wants to apply all laws according to its own will and interests.”
Drawing attention to the general rights of the peoples, the lawyer concluded: “The Turkish state always tramples on the law. This is entirely a political stance. The Turkish state does everything according to its own interests. Leader Apo is the owner of a project and a cause; millions of people stand behind this cause. Now, many circles are creating obstacles to keep our Leader in prison. However, we want Leader Apo to be released immediately and to see him among us.”