Kesbir: Holland must re-examine its extradition decision

The Kurdish politician Nuriye Kesbir ended her hunger strike on 10^th June, 34 days after starting on 7^th May. She announced that she is acting in full respect of the laws and justice of the Netherlands and called for the government to re-examine the extradition decision. However, she announced that depending on the course of the trial she would go back on hunger strike if she felt it necessary. In addition, Kesbir declared:

“Throughout the last month, in particular through the support of the Kurdish people, democratic human rights’ organisations, various women’s movements and organisations such as UNO and Amnesty International, my case has reached a new dimension. With the aim of not aggravating the course of my trial, and taking into account the advice of my lawyers, Victor Koppe and Britta Böhler, I have decided to make a statement on the following points:

1- The Kurdish people have proved by their stance that their struggle is justified and have shown that they perceive the unfair judgement against myself as a judgement against themselves. In the last month, the Dutch Ministry of Justice has received thousands of signatures, faxes, e-mails and letters from Holland and the whole world. I am acting with a sense of responsibility, giving the Ministry of Justice the opportunity to evaluate this reality to the full extent.

2- Furthermore, I am acting out of respect for the statements and the commitment of the UNO, Amnesty International, the Turkish Human Rights’ Organisation IHD and many other human rights’ activists, as well as out of respect for the sensitivity of the women’s movements. I wish to express the fact that I attribute a high significance to the intervention of these institutions and very much appreciate their role.

At this point I wish to say thank you and hope that they will continue with their good work. I believe that they will not sit back contented with what has been achieved so far, but will continue to act in solidarity until justice wins.

3- I am aware that the struggle of the Kurdish people is going through a very delicate and tricky phase. Everyone knows that the Turkish state has not significantly changed in its essence and attitude of mind and is busy trying to obtain a date for entry into the EU through cover-up and law changes. Today, because it brings advantages, the state is a “democrat”, but tomorrow it can adopt the military direction again. For five years the Turkish state did not seize the hand which was stretched out to it in peace. Sad as it is, we are again receiving news of armed conflicts. The one-sided ceasefire is over. Unfortunately the EU also did not make any constructive contribution to the maintenance of the peaceful phase. On the contrary, its stance stirred up and fanned the flames of the war. I am very aware of these games and strive to continue my legitimate and democratic fight to the end, as part of the fight against them.

4- I wish to communicate the following to the Dutch state, all of its political parties and the civilian organisations: the Netherlands are well-known as a land of freedom, respectful of human and women’s rights, as a mosaic of religions and cultures, where justice and a culture of understanding preside. You should under no circumstances bow to the influence of short-term economic profit”.