Abdullah Ocalan

Early day motion 1635, tabled 19 September 2023 by Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party). Signed by 8 members.

That this House notes with great concern the continued incarceration in isolation by Turkish authorities of Abdullah Ocalan, the Kurdish political leader held on Imrali Island since 1999; believes that failure to permit family visits and contacts constitutes a gross violation of any prisoner’s basic rights; recognises the deep undiminished attachment that Kurdish people have to Ocalan and the widespread concerns for his welfare; understands that his arrest, trial and detention failed to bring an end to the conflict between the Turkish State and the Kurds, and on the contrary, this only served to accentuate the longstanding problems still unresolved to this day; and calls on the Government to use its good offices to make representations to the Republic of Turkey to end Ocalan’s isolation and initiate a process of peace that will acknowledge Ocalan’s true record of constructive peace proposals and efforts to provide a lasting solution that satisfies the wishes of Kurds and Turks.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 4, Labour 2, Alba 1, Independent 1.