8. Plaid Cymru Debate: The Kurds in Turkey

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:53 pm on 20 March 2019.

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Photo of Delyth Jewell Delyth Jewell Plaid Cymru 5:53, 20 March 2019

Thank you to everyone who's taken part in this debate. Members have spoken very movingly in favour of the motion. I agree with Bethan that it’s only right that this Chamber should express our voice on international issues, particularly when they concern a Welsh citizen. Mick Antoniw spoke of the personal affinity that he feels with the Kurds, and I thank him for his very moving words. And Leanne spoke of her personal friendship with Imam. I, too, am proud to call Imam a friend. I agree that it’s impossible not to be inspired by him. Thank you to Jenny Rathbone as well for her support on this.

I was glad to hear the Minister saying that we in Wales have a tradition of calling out injustice internationally, and I will quote her words: when people from other parts of the world come to Wales to make their home, we are enriched, and when they suffer, we suffer, too.

I’m glad that she has raised this issue with the Turkish ambassador. I would still implore the Government to please support our motion. We can still write a letter on this. Again, when the Government have created a ministry for international affairs, surely it is within the bounds of that to express an opinion on this.

I’m afraid that I found some of Darren Millar’s comments—and I’ll use his word—‘distasteful’. I regret the tone of his contribution profoundly. I won’t get into what Darren has said, but I’ll repeat that the motion is about human rights and ending the enforced solitary confinement of a political prisoner. And the life of a Welsh citizen—Imam is 32; he’s a year older than me, and he might die.