KURDS COLLECT SIGNATURES IN YEREVAN FOR ABDULLAH OCALAN
06:16 PM | TODAY | POLITICS
Kurds in Armenia have launched collection of signatures in support
of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party
(PKK).
Gathered in front of Grigor Lusavoritch Church in Yerevan, the group
suggested that passers-by sign their petition calling for Ocalan’s
release.
“We cannot find peace as long as Ocalan is in prison. We have already
visited all marzes in Armenia. We call for Ocalan’s immediately release
not only in the name of the Kurdish people but everyone,” said Tamara
Chatoyan, a representative of the Kurdish community in Armenia.
The collection of signatures started in December 2012 and will continue
through March, 2013. Ocalan needs at least 5 mln signatures to be
set free.
“We have already gathered 5000 signatures in Armenia,” said the
group members.
Many of the passers-by did not know Abdullah Ocalan, who is serving
his sentence in Turkey but they willingly signed the petition.
Ocalan was sentenced to death for treason against the Turkish state in
1999 but whose sentence was commuted to life imprisonment when Turkey
was forced to abolish the death sentence as part of it’s application
to join the EU – and the Turkish government.
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