WRITTEN QUESTION E-0334/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(14 February 2000)

Subject: Special treatment of a Kurdish national imprisoned in Hamburg

Ilhan Gelkouvan, a Kurdish national imprisoned in Hamburg, has for many days been on a hunger strike with the intention of starving himself to death, maintaining that, although his case has been tried by the courts and final judgment delivered, he is being excluded from the schedule applicable to other prisoners, being given different treatment and being held in solitary confinement. We have now learned that other prisoners in the EU Member States and in third countries have also commenced hunger strikes in sympathy.

1. Is the Council aware of the special treatment being given to Ilhan Gelkouvan by the Hamburg prison authorities?

2. What measures will it take to end this and ensure that the prisoner concerned is treated in accordance with the same criteria applicable to other prisoners, given the fact that he is seeking no more than his due?

Reply

(2 May 2000)

The Council has no information on the treatment mentioned and has no competence to deal with the questions raised by the honourable Member of the European Parliament.