B4-1112, 1140 and 1167/95

Resolution on the imprisonment of Mr Medhi Zana

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its previous resolutions on the human rights situation in Turkey, particularly those concerning Mr Medhi Zana and the Members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly of Kurdish origin,

A.pointing out that on 13 May 1995 Mr Medhi Zana had been in prison in Turkey for a year,

B.pointing out that on 3 December 1992 Mr Zana outlined to Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights his view on the situation regarding Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin living in Turkey and that, according to Turkish law, the mere act of stating that a Kurdish minority exists in Turkey constitutes a crime,

1.Condemns once more, in the strongest terms, the violation of human rights in Turkey, with particular regard to Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin;

2.Calls for the immediate release of Mr and Mrs Zana and their colleagues and of all Turkish citizens who have been imprisoned for defending human rights in Turkey;

3.Reaffirms its determination to defend, by all possible means, respect for human rights in Turkey and calls on the government in Ankara to adhere to the international human rights conventions which Turkey has signed;

4.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Turkish Government.