[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                               LEYLA ZANA

                                 ______


                          HON. ELIZABETH FURSE

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 1994

  Ms. FURSE. Mr. Speaker, I have spoken out in the past on the House 
floor about the egregious situation Leyla Zana finds herself in.
  Leyla is the first and only Kurdish woman parliamentarian deputy in 
Turkey's history. She has been held in solitary confinement by Turkish 
authorities since March 2, nearly 7 months now. Her crime? Public 
speech, for which the Turkish government wants her sentenced to death.
  Leyla was first arrested and severely tortured by the Turkish police 
in 1988 for engaging in peaceful demonstrations on behalf of prisoners 
against the barbarity of torture, and for respect for human dignity and 
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  I want to read from Leyla's September 15 letter to me and I ask 
permission to submit it in its entirety to the Record.

       I came to realize that war and violence, inflicted by a 
     society based on macho values--worship of power and 
     destruction of the weak, had brought the Kurdish and Turkish 
     peoples to the point of civil war and to the brink of social 
     and moral disaster. I therefore resolve to take an active 
     part in political life in order to send a different message * 
     * *
       In October 1991, I was elected deputy to the Turkish 
     Parliament with 82% of the vote.
       * * * during my swearing-in ceremony, a phrase I spoke in 
     Kurdish, on friendship and coexistence between Kurds and 
     Turks within the context of equality and of respect for the 
     identity of the other [caused me to be] described as a 
     ``separatist,'' and ``ally of terrorists,'' a ``traitor.'' My 
     photo was used in the target practice of the Turkish police * 
     * *
       I am determined to continue, by peaceful means, the 
     struggle for peace between Kurds and Turks, for democracy, 
     and for respect for human rights. These, I believes, are the 
     universal values which must unite us, beyond differences of 
     language or religion.

  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the leadership Congressman Porter is taking 
on behalf of Leyla Zana, as well as the other five duly elected 
parliamentarians representing Kurdish populations who are also being 
detained. As elected officials, we all must speak out against this 
abuse of humanity.

                                        Ankara, 15 September 1994.
     Ms. Elizabeth Furse,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Colleague, I read in the Turkish press that you are 
     considering taking action to demonstrate your solidarity with 
     me. I am very touched, and would like to express my warmest 
     thanks.
       I am the first and only Kurdish woman parliamentary deputy 
     in Turkey's history. My political experience began outside 
     the gates of the Turkish prison where my husband, mayor of 
     Diyarbakir (the main Kurdish city), was imprisoned for 10 
     years and 8 months. Prisoners' wives organized peaceful 
     demonstrations against the barbarity of torture, and for 
     respect for human dignity and the Universal Declaration of 
     Human Rights. For the activity I was harassed and persecuted 
     by the Turkish police, who finally arrested me in July 1988. 
     I was severely tortured for 59 days, and still bear the 
     scars, both psychological and physical.
       I came to realize that war and violence, inflicted by a 
     society based on macho values--worship of power and 
     destruction of the weak, had brought the Kurdish and Turkish 
     peoples to the point of civil war and to the brink of social 
     and moral disaster. I therefore resolved to take an active 
     part in political life in order to send a different message, 
     one of respect for human beings, their dignity and their 
     inalienable rights, and of the need for dialogue about the 
     deep problems in our society. In October 1991 I was elected 
     deputy from Diyarbakir to the Turkish Parliament, with 82% of 
     the votes.
       My first clash with the Turkish political establishment, 
     dominated by generals and men who deny the very existence of 
     the Kurdish people, took place during my swearing-in ceremony 
     in Parliament. A phrase I spoke in Kurdish, on friendship and 
     coexistence between Kurds and Turks within the context of 
     equality and of respect for the identity of the other, 
     elicited a violent attack from the media. I was described as 
     a ``separatist'', an ``ally of terrorists'', a ``traitor'', 
     etc. My photo was used in the target practice of the Turkish 
     police. After that, I barely escaped two attempts on my life. 
     (In fact, eighty-four national and regional leaders of our 
     Democracy Party have already been assassinated).
       On 2 March 1994, on my return from a European trip during 
     which I had been received by President Mitterrand of France 
     and Jacques Delors, President of the European Community 
     Commission, I was arrested along with five other deputies. 
     Since then we have been held in preventive detention. We are 
     criticized for our statements in Turkey and abroad, including 
     those before the Helsinki Commission. The Turkish Government 
     want us sentenced to death for our opinions. For 7 months I 
     have been in solitary confinement. My only contacts with the 
     outside world are my lawyers and a few authorized visitors.
       In spite of these difficulties and the poor state of my 
     health, I am determined to continue, by peaceful means, the 
     struggle for peace between Kurds and Turks, for democracy, 
     and for respect for human rights. These, I believe, are the 
     universal values which must unite us, beyond differences of 
     language or religion.
       Any support from the Untied States is of great importance 
     to us. I count in particular on the solidarity of my feminist 
     sisters, those admirable American women to whom the struggle 
     for democracy, peace and equality is so greatly indebted. 
     Come and be with us as observers of the trial. Write via the 
     Kurdish Institute of Paris, which will see that the message 
     gets to me.
       Thanking you again, and awaiting your reply, I remain.
           Sincerely yours,
     Layla Zana.

                          ____________________