Press Release

October 24, 1997

Contact: Patricia Krommer CSJ --(202)483-6444

CHAIRMAN, HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, DEMANDS RELEASE OF LEYLA ZANA FROM TURKISH PRISON

Rep. Ben Gilman (R-NY), chairman of the House International Relations Committee, issued a letter today to the American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN) condemning the imprisonment of Leyla Zana, former member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and a Nobel Nominee.  The timing of Gilman's letter coincides with an announcement issued by the governments of Great Britain and Germany condemning the human rights record of Turkey.  Germany warned Turkey's newly-installed government that unless their treatment of minorities honors their human rights, they will forfeit membership in the European Union.  Both Great Britain and Germany were responding to the sentencing of Mr. Akin Birdal, chairman of the Turkish Human Rights Association, and the imprisonment of Esber Yagmudereli, a well-known human rights activist.

In his letter addressed to Mr. Kani Xulam, the Director of AKIN and a member of the group that is fasting, Rep. Gilman states, "I hope that your actions will bring home to the government in Ankara that supporters of human rights and the rights of minorities are too many and courageous to be intimidated by the repressive measures now directed at the prisoners of conscience in Turkey."  Gilman added his signature to a "Dear Colleague" letter initiated in the House by Rep. Elizabeth Furse (D-OR), Rep. John Porter (R-IL), Rep. Esteban Torres (D-CA), and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) urging President Clinton to intervene in the case of Leyla Zana, who was invited to the U.S. to speak before the Helsinki Commission in the U.S. Congress.  Upon her return she was charged with treason, and sentenced to fifteen years in prison.  The Kurds and their American friends who are fasting in front of the Capitol will be visited tomorrow by Elena Bonner, widow of Andrei Sakharov.  Zana is a recipient of the Sakharov Award by the European Parliament.

A press conference will be held on Thursday, October 30th in the Capitol, Room HC-6 at 10:00 AM to read the letter and send it to the President.  Gilman's signature brings the total number of signatures to 150.