Press Release

June 29, 1999

Telephone: (202) 483-6444

Members of Congress Condemn Turkey for Ocalan Death Sentence

Today, on June 29, 1999, the Turkish State Security Court issued its expected death penalty verdict on the Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan. Members of the United States Congress will hold a press conference tomorrow, on June 30, 1999, at the House Triangle, at 11:30 a.m. in front of United States Capitol. (In case of rain, 2253 Rayburn House Office Building)

Congressmen Bob Filner and Frank Pallone Jr. together with the former Attorney General Ramsey Clark are scheduled to speak on the issue. Kathryn C. Porter, the President of Human Rights Alliance, will also address the assembled crowd. Congressman John E. Porter is expected to make an appearance as well. Other members of the human rights community have been invited to participate.

A group known as Washington Activists Group (WAG) will also be present at the press conference to impersonate the trial of Ocalan.

"The decision of the Turkish court may cost Mr. Ocalan his life but the sentence means nothing to the Kurds," said Kani Xulam, the Director of the American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN).

"What would a French resister have expected from a Nazi court? A death penalty no different than what Mr. Ocalan received from the Turkish one. The Germans had no authority to judge the French and the Turks have no right to pass a judgment on Mr. Ocalan. Turkey is a fascist state. The Kurds are the injured party. Justice has not been served. The problem has been delayed," noted Mr. Xulam.