Shared from Delist the PKK:
An international conference which took place in Bonn, Germany last week has published a resolution advocating the end of the ban on the PKK, as well all its sister organisations and their activities. The conference, which brought together lawyers and legal experts from across Europe, also called for the release of Abdullah Ocalan from Imrali in order for him to be able to fulfil his role as lead negotiator for the PKK in the ongoing peace talks; immunity and protection from criminalisation for negotiators on all sides, and the abolishment of all terrorism lists in the EU, its members states and in Turkey.

Many of the participants of the conference, which was organised by MAF-DAD and Azadi Freiheit, have also been a part of ajoint ELDH appeal which has been collecting signatures from lawyers, barristers and legal professionals who support the abolishing the ban. This campaign is still open, and lawyers from across Europe are encouraged to sign on.

In addition, the conference strongly asserts that the Kurdish people have a right to self-determination, and have taken this right in the establishment of an autonomous region in Syria – Rojava.  It also calls on the EU to support the reconstruction of Kobane following a 6-month siege on the city by the so-called ‘Islamic State’.

You can read the conference resolution in full below:

“THE SO-CALLED ANTI-TERROR STRUGGLE USING THE EXAMPLE OF THE KURDS IN THE LIGHT OF INTERNATIONAL LAW” 

Bonn 6-8 February 2015

Final Resolution 

Following consideration by the participants of:

– the right to self-determination of the Kurdish people;

– the concept of ‘terrorism;’

– the legal and political solutions,

The following conclusions have been reached:

The Kurdish people in the states of the near east (Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran) have the right to self-determination. After the establishment of the autonomous region of Kurdistan in Northern Iraq, the people of Rojava (Northern Syria) have successfully claimed this right with the implementation of a model of democratic autonomy in the three cantons. Deserving of special attention under these conditions is a new social contract in Rojava that establishes a framework for the peaceful coexistence of all ethnic, cultural, religious and secular identities.

The participants vehemently condemn the atrocities of the ‘Islamic State’ (Da’esh) committed against Kurds, Yezides, Turkmenians, Assyrians, Shiites, and other minorities in the region. The mass enslavement, rape, and murder of women are particularly abhorrent. The fate of countless Yezidi women remains unknown to date. The fight of the armed units of YPG/YGJ and PKK against attacks of the “Islamic State (IS)” and other groups is based on the right to self-defence.

All direct and indirect parties in this civil war are requested to respect international humanitarian law and to ensure its application. Those who are responsible for femicide and crimes against humanity are to be prosecuted and sentenced under international humanitarian law.

All necessary steps must be taken for the permanent protection of all peoples living in the region. All direct support of ‘IS’ (Da’esh) including logistical support, and military aid,, including the complicity of the Governments of Turkey, Saudi-Arabia and Qatar, must end.

The European Union and the United Nations must urgently provide support for the rebuilding of Kobani, Sringal, and other regions destroyed by ‘IS’ (Da’esh). To this end, unhindered boarder traffic through the neighboring countries must be guaranteed.

An international delegation of jurists will visit Rojava in order to support the development of the  Rule of Law in the region and to support the professional development of the judiciary.

The participants further conclude, that in the light of the cease fire and the ongoing peace process between the PKK and the Turkish government, the continuing proscription of the PKK is no longer appropriate and that the following steps must now be taken:

  • Continuing constructive engagement in the peace process between the Turkish government and the PKK with the goal of a lasting peace and the legal recognition by the Turkish state of the PKK and its sister organisations;
  • The active support of the peace process, especially by the EU and other countries who criminalise the PKK;
  • The assurance of safety and immunity for the negotiators of the peace process on both sides
  • The release of Abdullah Ocalan so that he may fulfil his role as leading negotiator for PKK
  • Opposition to the new security bill which constrains the right to demonstrate,, provides for more draconian punishments, and the extension of the rights of the executive, which has been submitted to the Turkish Parliament in the name of the “War on Terror”
  • An end to the ban on the PKK, its sister organisations and media outlets, and their activities, in all countries and especially in the EU;
  • The removal of the PKK and its sister organisations from the proscribed organisation list of every country and the EU;
  • The general abolishment of such lists in every country and the EU

All lawyers are encouraged to sign the joint declaration of the EU lawyers association EJDM/ELDH e.V., of MAF-DAD e.V. and AZADI e.V. and to support its distribution.

“Remove PKK from the EU Proscribed Organisation List – lift the activity ban – support the peace process – legal reassessment necessary” 

Directly on the website of EJDM/ELDH 

Or by email to info@mafdad.org or azadi@t-online.de