The European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress (KCDK-E) and the Kurdish Women's Movement (TJK-E) made a joint statement in front of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium behind a banner with a photo of Abdullah Öcalan, reading “European Kurdish Democratic Society supports Öcalan’s Peace and Democratic Society Call" in English.

The press statement was made in response to Abdullah Öcalan’s ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society’, announced by the DEM Party İmralı Delegation in Istanbul on February 27. The democratic Kurdish community organizations in Europe declared that they took responsibility for the realization of Öcalan’s call.

The joint statement by KCDK-E and TJK-E reads as follows:

“Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's “Call for Peace and a Democratic Society” on the 27th of February created great excitement and happiness among millions of Kurds living in Europe. Before deciding on his call for Peace and a Democratic Society, Mr. Öcalan sent a letter to us, the European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress (KCDK-E) and the Kurdish Women's Movement (TJK-E) and asked for our opinions on his proposals. As KCDK-E and TJK-E, we thank him for this democratic and inclusive approach. 

'We consider ourselves responsible'

For this reason, we consider ourselves responsible for the implementation of the Peace and Democratic Society manifesto, and we hereby declare that we will elevate our struggle as democratic Kurdish community organizations in Europe for the realization of democracy and peace with all our strength.

'We will mobilize with all our strength to make peace possible'

As the Kurdish Women's Movement in Europe, we are well aware that we are the decisive and driving force in building democracy and peace. In this regard, we know that women will be the dominant force for democracy and peace in the new process and, accordingly, we declare that we will mobilize with all our strength to make peace possible with women of all cultures. We are not only the primary victims of wars and conflicts, but we have also shown that we are the solution in Kurdistan for the last 30 years. With women's libertarian and our Apoist (Abdullah Öcalan) struggle of the last 50 years, we have been able to weave democracy into the fabric of society and politics in Kurdistan. Today, we aim to expand this with our sisters from other peoples, and to build democracy and peace in those countries. 

'A democratic Turkey will undoubtedly benefit everyone'

There is no doubt that Mr. Öcalan's call directly envisages the democratization of Turkey through Turkish-Kurdish peace. However, a democratic Turkey will undoubtedly benefit everyone. In fact, this step taken by Mr. Öcalan is a win-win for everyone. However, in doing so he has shouldered the greatest responsibility and risk. We also see the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)'s unilateral decision to declare the 9th unilateral ceasefire since 1993 as assuming a significant responsibility. 

'The EU's support for Mr. Öcalan's call in this process will also lead to a positive outcome'

While the success of this process is of interest to the Kurds and Turkey in particular, it is also of direct interest to the European Union. At the EU Summit in Helsinki in December 1999, Mr. Abdullah Öcalan and the PKK supported Turkey's candidacy for EU membership and hoped for the development of democracy in Turkey with the EU's contributions. There is now a historic opportunity regarding Turkey’s candidacy for EU membership that could lead to new and positive developments, particularly regarding persistent criticisms of Turkey’s failure to fulfill the Copenhagen Criteria. Therefore, the EU's support for Mr. Öcalan's call in this process will also lead to a positive outcome in EU-Turkey relations. As a matter of fact, Germany, France and other EU countries have already responded positively to Mr. Öcalan's call. For this reason, we call on the EU to develop a democratic approach in its Kurdish policy, that is, to urgently put an end to the PKK ban and its policies that criminalize the Kurds through it. 

'We must march not only against war, but to give peace a chance'

In this context, we appreciate the positive statements made by the German federal government, the UK, the UN, the USA and other states. We would also like to mention here that the statements of solidarity and support from the Left and progressive European parties and civil society organizations have strengthened us. To our friends, now is the time for more cooperation for peace. This time, we must march not only against war, but to give peace a chance. Our friends have already made valuable contributions to the development of the process in the "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan - Solution to the Kurdish Question” campaign they announced on October 10th, 2023. Now is the time to work together to ensure Abdullah Öcalan's freedom and for the establishment of peace. 

For the liberation of Mr. Öcalan, who has assumed all the burden, responsibility, and risk for the implementation of peace, we hope that the EU member states will support the Turkish government to implement the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe’s September 16th 2024 decision on the Right to Hope.”