We mourn the loss of Lord Rea, an exceptional friend of the Kurds
We salute the memory of Lord Rea, who died on 1st June age 91. Lord Rea was a staunch friend of the Kurds, patron of Peace in Kurdistan since it was founded in 1994 and respected around the world as a human rights defender. He will be much missed.
Human rights everywhere were a passionate concern of Lord Rea throughout his career and he was determined to speak out on various cases of abuses and injustices such as the Kurds.
He was always ready to contribute towards the campaigns in support of Kurdish issues and raised matters of concern with government ministers, spoke in Lords debates and hosted countless discussions on Kurdish affairs in Parliament, among his many invaluable activities. Lord Rea visited Turkey numerous times as part of delegations to highlight cases of human rights violations of political prisoners and abuses of power carried out by the Turkish state.
Lord Rea was a friend of the late Lord Avebury, with whom he shared an outstanding dedication to defending the principles of human rights worldwide and who displayed an equally exemplary internationalism.
Lord Rea was a fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners and worked as a GP in North London. He was one of the few hereditary peers remaining in the House of Lords having been elected in 1999. Lord Rea was very much a working peer who owed his political allegiance to the Labour Party. He will be remembered for his kindly nature and softly spoken manner, which could not conceal his dogged determination to make a difference.
Peace in Kurdistan sends its heartfelt condolences to Lord Rea’s family and expresses immense gratitude for all the important solidarity work that he performed to support the cause of justice for the Kurds. He commands our deepest respect as an outstanding individual, a friend and ally.
15 June 2020
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish Question
Email: estella24@tiscali.co.uk
www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.com
Contacts Estella Schmid 020 7586 5892 & Melanie Gingell – Tel: 020 7272 7890
Patrons: John Austin, Baroness Blower of Starch Green, former GS NUT, Prof Bill Bowring, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Prof Mary Davis, Lord Dholakia, Simon Dubbins, UNITE International Director, Jill Evans, former MEP, Desmond Fernandes, Lindsey German, Convenor STWC, Melanie Gingell, Christopher Gingell, Prof Dr. Michael Gunter, Secretary-General, EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC), Rahila Gupta, Nick Hildyard, Dafydd Iwan, Former President Plaid Cymru, James Kelman, Bruce Kent, Jean Lambert, former MEP, Elfyn Llwyd, Aonghas MacNeacail, Scottish Gaelic poet, Mike Mansfield QC, David Morgan, Doug Nicholls, General Secretary, GFTU, Dr. Jessica Ayesha Northey, Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy, Dr Thomas Jeffrey Miley, Kate Osamor MP, Margaret Owen OBE, Ali Gul Ozbek, Former Councillor and Mayor of Haringey; Gareth Peirce, Dr Felix Padel, Maxine Peake, actor, Trevor Rayne, writer, Lord Rea, Joe Ryan, Tony Simpson, Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, Stephen Smellie, PIK Trade Union Liaison Officer, Jonathan Steele, Steve Sweeney, Gianni Tognoni, General Secretary Permanent People’s Tribunal, Dr Tove Skutnabb-Kangas, Dr Tom Wakeford, Dr Derek Wall, Julie Ward, former MEP, Kariane Westrheim, Chair, EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC); Hywel Williams MP.