An “honorary citizenship” ceremony was held for Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan in the municipal building in Campobasso, Italy by two municipalities.

Last April, Italy’s Castel de Giudice City Council under the Isernia Municipality and the Castelbottaccio City Council under the Campobasso Municipality had announced that they were awarding Öcalan with an “honorary citizenship”. Representatives from local organizations and associations and mayors participated in the ceremony held in the Campobasso municipal building. Mayors stressed Kurdish People’s Leader Öcalan’s struggle for peace in their speeches.

ÖCALAN THE RESISTANCE LEADER

In his speech, Castelbottaccio Mayor Dr. Nicola Marrone said: “When we look at our history, our leaders also had a resistance line and our people fought partizan wars. Today, the Kurdish people are waging such a resistance. Mr. Öcalan is the leader of this resistance.”

Marrone stated that the struggle waged by Kurdish People’s Leader Öcalan and the Kurdish people should be supported and said the following on Öcalan’s role in establishing peace in the Middle East: “On top of being a resistance leader, Mr. Öcalan has also implemented a project based on the common life of all peoples with the Rojava Revolution in particular. He has created a system that transcends the state with this project.”

SUPPORT FOR PEACE

The Honorary Citizenship documents awarded to Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan were received by Freedom For Öcalan Initiative Member Mahmut Şakar, who said: “Mr. Öcalan has been held under isolation conditions for 19 years. In these 19 years, he hasn’t been allowed to meet with his lawyers since July 27, 2011 and we haven’t heard anything from him on his health or conditions since September 11, 2016. Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and European countries haven’t shown enough support or effort for this matter.”

Şakar stated that the Honorary Citizenship awarded to Öcalan is a support for peace.

In Italy, Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan has been awarded the honorary citizenship title 9 times, by Campobasso and Castelbottaccio provinces and Palermo, Napoli, Palagonia, Reggio Emilia, Riace, Martano and Pinerolo municipalities.