|
Mass arrests of Kurds in Belgium cause
great concern across Europe
5.3.2010
|
|
|
|
March
5, 2010
At 5am this morning, the offices of ROJ TV were
raided by the Belgium Police along with several
other addresses in Belgium. 30 people were arrested
including Mr Remzi Kartal, Mr Zubeyir Aydar and Mr
Eyep Duru. Though we understand that ROJ TV has not
been closed down none of the journalists have yet
been allowed back into the building and transmission
has ceased for the time being. ROJ TV is the
mouthpiece of the Kurdish community in Europe and is
seen as a beacon of hope for all those who seek the
resolution of the Kurdish Question. |
 |
Remzi Kartal is particularly well
known and respected across Europe and in the UK for
his diplomatic activities on behalf of his people.
Like many Kurds, Mr Kartal regarded Europe as a safe
haven when he had to flee repression in his
homeland. Mr Kartal had been elected to the Turkish
Parliament as a Democratic Party (DEP) member along
with Mr Aydar. They were prevented from playing
their part in the democratic political process and
were quickly attacked and detained with Ms Leyla
Zana later serving a long prison sentence. Fearing
incarceration and torture, they fled to Europe where
they were granted asylum.
In 2002 the European Court of Human Rights, ruled
against Turkey and in favour of Mr Kartal and 12
others, under Article 3 of Protocol 1. The
systematic torture of dissidents by Turkey was yet
again proved beyond doubt and Mr Kartal received
50,000 Euros compensation.
Undeterred Mr Kartal started to campaign in exile
for the Kurdish cause and became well known in
diplomatic and government circles all over the UK
and Europe for his lobbying work and advocacy of a
democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish
question in Turkey.
All three men have been working constructively in
the search for a peaceful settlement based on
justice and respect for everyone’s rights inside
Turkey. For their diplomatic efforts they should be
honoured not incarcerated. Their vision of a just,
free, peaceful and democratic Turkey is one that we
all share and as such we demand that their freedom
is returned to them to allow them to continue in
their chosen and much valued roles.
Mr Kartal and Mr Duru were arrested in Spain in 2009
but subsequently released without charge. We fully
expect the same to happen again and already many of
those arrested have been released but these tactics
of intimidation against those working peacefully to
further the Kurdish cause are of great concern,
particularly in the lead up to the International
Women’s Day on 8 March and the Kurdish New Year,
Newroz which is celebrated on 21 March.
An emergency demonstration is being held in the UK
to protest the arrests at midday tomorrow, Friday 5
March outside the Belgian Embassy, 17 Grosvenor
Crescent, London.
For further information contact: Peace in Kurdistan
Rachel Bird: 020 7272 4161 / 07952 145854; knklondon@gn.apc.org
Estella Schmid: 020 7586 5892; estella24@tiscali.co.uk
Info-Türk: http://www.info-turk.be
Copyright, respective
author or news agency, EuroKurd
Human Rights, eurokurd net
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
®
