PRESS RELEASE
June 5, 2000
KURDISH MAYORS DENIED PERMISSION TO VISIT US
WKI Decries Turkish Government’s Attempt to Stifle Discussion of Kurdish Issues
Washington, D.C. – The President of the Washington Kurdish Institute, Dr. Najmaldin Karim, expressed deep disappointment over the decision by Turkish authorities to prevent the mayors of Van and Viransehir from visiting Washington. The mayors were to appear on Capitol Hill at a briefing on June 6, 2000, before the US Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe and had scheduled meetings with Members of Congress, US officials, journalists, academics and others. Two days before departing and after having obtained US visas, they were both informed that they would not be permitted to travel to Washington.
Dr. Karim stated, “These capricious actions, which appear to have no legal basis, underscore the tenuous nature of the rule of law in Turkey. Such restrictions on the rights of individuals to travel and express their views represent the latest effort by authorities to silence Kurdish voices and harass Kurdish political representatives. While Turkey’s military recently sponsored public relations outings in the Southeast to showcase efforts aimed at “winning the hearts and minds” of Kurds, it is clear that Turkish authorities remain unwilling to allow truly open exchanges of information and opinions. One wonders why authorities would resort to such draconian measures to prevent contacts between Kurdish elected officials and Washington audiences. If the US government truly wants to bolster democracy in Turkey, it should publicly call upon the Turkish government to honor stated human rights commitments and to allow the mayors to travel wherever and whenever they wish.”
Background:
Sahabettin Ozarslener (Mayor, Van) and Emrulla Cin (Mayor, Viransehir) were elected in April 1999 with 35 other mayors from the Peoples’ Democracy Party (HADEP). In the most recent national elections, HADEP polled more than 4 percent of the total vote and won substantial majorities throughout Southeast Turkey. HADEP, like other parties which promote cultural, linguistic and other rights for Kurds, faces banning by Turkish legal authorities. In March 2000, three other HADEP Mayors were arrested, charged with aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), and forbidden to travel abroad.
HADEP officials and members are routinely harassed, detained and their offices closed on pretexts of their support for the PKK. Last week, HADEP’s Chairman, Ahmet Demir, was sentenced to one year in prison for remarks deemed “separatist propaganda”. Four former parliamentarians, members of HADEP’s predecessor party DEP, are currently serving 15 year jail terms. One, Leyla Zana, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, is charged for remarks made at a Helsinki Commission briefing in 1993. Other former DEP parliamentarians also served jail terms or were forced to live in exile.
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