An appeal for the annulment of the death sentence for Abdurrahman Er and Mazlum Dağ has been signed by politicians, unionists, MPs, activists in the UK. Senators of the Parliamentary Group Esquerra Republicana – Euskal Herria Bildu at the Spanish Parliament have tabled a question to the Spanish Government about the death sentence.
The appeal has been promoted throughout Europe and call for the annulment of the death sentence for Abdurrahman Er and Mazlum Dağ, and for alternative measures to detention to be implemented, as no real evidence has been actually presented to the court.
The appeal, in the UK, has been supported by Peace in Kurdistan Campaign, Lord Dholakia, Lord Hylton, Hywel Williams MP, Baroness Blower of Starch Green, former GS NUT, Dafydd Iwan, Former President Plaid Cymru, Margaret Owen OBE, barrister, Dr Felix Padel, Oxford University, David Morgan, journalist, Trevor Rayne, writer, Stephen Smellie, PIK Trade Union Liaison Officer, Father Joe Ryan, Peace campaigner.
The appeal can be signed by sending an email to campaigndager@outlook.ie
The appeal reads as follows:
“Abdurrahman Er and Mazlum Dağ were sentenced to death on 11 February 2020 by the Second Hall of the Erbil Criminal Court in the Autonomous Region of Iraqi Kurdistan – governed by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The sentence was confirmed by the Court of Appeal on 22 September 2020.
The two Kurdish citizens, together with two other people, are accused of the killing of the Turkish vice consul Osman Köse in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan on 17 July 2019 in Erbil.
Abdurrahman Er and Mazlum Dağ denied any responsibility for the murder and denounced being tortured during interrogation, as well as being subjected to continuous violence in prisons where they are held in solitary confinement. The two Kurdish citizens refused to sign a prepared confession presented to them by the authorities.
No real evidence was presented at the trial, which in fact was carried out without defense lawyers.
The European Union had already asked the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in 2015 to re-establish the moratorium on the death penalty, after the execution of three people in August of that year.
In these 5 years, relations, including economic ones, between the European Union and the KRG have intensified. The European Union and the Council of Europe reaffirmed, on 10 October 2020, World Day Against the Death Penalty, their “opposition to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances,” and renewed their “call for the universal abolition of the death penalty.”
In the context of deep political, economic and cultural relations, and in the sharing of the values of peace, justice and human rights between the institutions and citizens of the European Union and the KRG, as well as considering that the death penalty is the most flagrant institutionalized violation of human rights, we call for the annulment of the death sentence for Abdurrahman Er and Mazlum Dağ, and for alternative measures to detention to be implemented, as no real evidence has been actually presented to the court.”
Senators Gorka Elejabarrieta Diaz (Euskal Herria Bildu) Jordi Marti Deulofeu (Esquerra Republicana) have presented to the Spanish Government a question regarding the death penalty handed out to Abdurrahman Er and Mazlum Dağ.
The Senators of the Parliamentary Group Esquerra Republicana – Euskal Herria Bildu presented the following question demanding a written answer:
“On February 11 this year, Abdurrahman Er and Mazlum Dağ were sentenced to death by the Second Chamber of the Erbil Criminal Court in the Autonomous Region of Iraqi Kurdistan, governed by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The sentence was confirmed by the Court of Appeal on September 22.
The two Kurdish citizens, together with two other people, are accused of the killing of the Turkish vice consul Osman Köse in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan on 17 July 2019 in Erbil.
Abdurrahman Er and Mazlum Dağ denied any responsibility for the murder and denounced being tortured during interrogation, as well as being subjected to continuous violence in prisons where they are held in solitary confinement. The two Kurdish citizens refused to sign a prepared confession presented to them by the authorities.
The European Union had already asked the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in
2015 to reinstate the moratorium on the death penalty, after the execution of three people in August of that same year.
In these 5 years, relations, including economic ones, between the European Union and the KGR have intensified. The European Union and the Council of Europe reaffirmed, on October 10, 2020, World Day Against the Death Penalty, their “opposition to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances” and renewed their “call for the universal abolition of the death penalty. “
In the context of deep political, economic and cultural relations and sharing the values of peace, justice and human rights among the institutions and citizens of the European Union and the KRG, and considering the death penalty as the most flagrant institutionalized violation of human rights, it is essential to appeal for the annulment of the death penalty against Abdurrahman Er and Mazlum Dağ.
In this regard, we ask the government the following question:
– Has this government taken an interest in the case of Abdurrahman Er and Mazlum Dağ before international human rights organizations?
– Would this government be in a position to express its concern about this case in the European institutions?”
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Sinn Féin has expressed “serious concern surrounding the cases of Abdurrahman Er and Mazlum Dağ, sentenced to death in the Autonomous Region of Iraqi Kurdistan.
Sinn Féin has expressed “serious concern surrounding the cases of Abdurrahman Er and Mazlum Dağ who were sentenced to death on 11 February 2020 by the Second Hall of the Erbil Criminal Court in the Autonomous Region of Iraqi Kurdistan”.
The statement reads: “Sinn Féin wishes to express serious concern surrounding the cases of Abdurrahman Er and Mazlum Dağ who were sentenced to death on 11 February 2020 by the Second Hall of the Erbil Criminal Court in the Autonomous Region of Iraqi Kurdistan.
The two men have consistently denied any responsibility for the killing of the Turkish vice consul Osman Köse in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan on 17 July 2019 in Erbil. They have maintained that they were subject to torture during their interrogation, as well as continuous violence during their imprisonment where they are held in solitary confinement. Such accusations require the utmost attention and independent investigation.”
Sinn Féin added: “As Irish Republicans, we have witnessed and experienced the horrific impact miscarriages of justice can have. The international community must ensure there are no violations of due process and justice, upholding the rights of individuals.
We would echo the European Union’s call for, at the very least, a moratorium on the death penalty by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Ultimately, we would also advocate for the complete annulment of the death penalty.”
