The International Committee for the Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan issued a statement condemning the violation of the “Right to Hope” and the ongoing detention of the Kurdish people’s leader.
The statement, signed by the spokesperson of the Committee, Maryam Ebrahimi and Abbas Mansouran, reads as follows:
The International Committee for the Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan—an independent, interdisciplinary, legal-cultural body—hereby announces the submission of a formal petition signed by 571 academics, legal experts, and human rights defenders worldwide to relevant international institutions.
On April 1, 2026, the full petition, including the list of signatories, was formally submitted—together with the Committee’s requests—to the above-mentioned 13 international human rights bodies and relevant United Nations mechanisms.
This step constitutes an initial phase of the Committee’s mandate to present, pursue, and legally assess these demands at the international level, and aims to activate relevant monitoring and accountability mechanisms. This petition draws urgent global attention to the regime of isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı Island Prison—a condition that has persisted forover 27 years and constitutes a severe, continuous, and systematic violation of fundamental human rights.”
Legal Basis: The “Right to Hope”
The statement underlined that “this petition is grounded in established international legal standards, particularly the landmark judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in: Vinter and Others v. United Kingdom (2013, ECtHR). The Court affirmed that: The “right to hope”—namely, a real prospect of release and access to a meaningful review mechanism—is an inherent component of human dignity. Accordingly, imprisonment without the prospect of release and without a genuine review mechanism constitutes a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which absolutely prohibits inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Concerns
The statement added: “Despite limited reported changes, current conditions remain far below international standards:
1. Systematic Isolation
Prolonged solitary confinement violates the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Mandela Rules), which prohibit indefinite and prolonged solitary confinement.
2. Denial of Access
Ongoing restrictions on regular and confidential access to lawyers and family members constitute a serious breach of fair trial rights and fundamental legal protections.
Broader Implications
The Committee emphasizes that this issue extends beyond individual rights and has broader implications for:
• Regional stability
• Peace processes
• Political de-escalation
In light of renewed calls for dialogue and political solutions, enabling Abdullah Öcalan’s meaningful participation may play a crucial role in achieving a sustainable and democratic resolution.”
The petition calls upon international institutions to:
“1. Ensure Immediate Access
Guarantee prompt, regular, and unhindered access to legal counsel, family members, and independent monitoring bodies.
2. Implement the “Right to Hope”
Establish a transparent, effective, and periodic review mechanism.
3. Ensure Independent Monitoring
Strengthen international oversight of detention conditions in İmralı Prison.”
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