USA: Another Congressman Nominates Leyla Zana for Nobel Peace Prize

[ozgurluk at xs4all.nl]

July 14, 1998

The Nobel Peace Prize Committee
Nobelinsintuttet
Drammensvein 19
N-0255 Oslo, Norway

Dear Committee Members:

I am writing to ask that you give your utmost consideration to the 
nomination of Leyla Zana for the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize, a gesture that 
could initiate an end to Turkey's appalling discriminatory policies 
against its Kurdish citizens.

In October 1991, Leyla Zana was elected by an overwhelming margin to 
represent her hometown of Diyarbakir, becoming the first Kurdish woman 
ever elected to the Turkish Parliament.  As a result of her exercise of 
the right to free speech in defending the rights of the Kurdish people, 
she was arrested and convicted of treason by Turkish authorities.  In 
December 1994, she was sentenced to 15 years in prison and remains there 
today.

One of the examples used by the Turkish government as evidence of her 
"separatist" activity was her testimony before the United States 
Congress' Committee on the Helsinki Commission, where she addressed the 
oppression of the Kurds living in Turkey and voiced her hopes for a 
peaceful solution between the two parties.

Zana's courageous efforts to promote democratic change through 
nonviolence have been admired and revered by many.  She is the recipient 
of numerous peace prizes and honorary friendship awards.

The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Leyla Zana would serve as a 
valiant attempt by the committee to bring an end to the suffering of the 
Kurdish people.  It would bring to the world's attention Zana's message 
of hope for a peaceful coexistence to end the misery that has plagued the 
Kurdish people.  I hope that you will agree to initiate harmony in an 
area where peace has been so long awaited.

Sincerely,




Nick Lampson
Member of Congress



----
American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN)
2623 Connecticut Avenue NW #1
Washington, DC 20008-1522

Tel: (202) 483-6444
Fax: (202) 483-6476
E-mail: akin at kurdish.org
Home Page: http://www.kurdistan.org
List info: english-request at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl