Rome is getting ready for the national demonstration for the freedom of Kurdish people’s leader, Abdullah Ocalan.

The demonstration will be held in the Italian capital on Saturday 16 of February to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the international conspiracy which led to the capture of Ocalan.

Ocalan had first landed in Italy, in November 1998, but subsequently left Italy. By the time he was granted political asylum here he had already been captured and brought to Imrali.

The manifesto calling on people and organisations to join the demonstration recalled the hunger strikes going on in Kurdish and Turkish prisons as well as in many cities in Europe. The action led by HDP Hakkari MP, Leyla Güven demands the end of isolation against Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan.

The manifesto added: “Abdullah Öcalan's freedom is crucial to resume peace talks that had been abruptly broken by the Turkish state. Öcalan can play a key role in the solution of the Kurdish question. Ending isolation against him would mean to give a peace and democracy a chance for all those territories suffering from war, destruction and forced migration.”

Among those organising and participating at the demonstration are Rete Kurdistan Italia, Rete Jin
Palermo Solidale con il Popolo Kurdo, Toscana per il Kurdistan, COBAS, CGIL, FIOM Nazionale
Un Ponte Per, Movimento No Muos, Arci Solidarietà Onlus, ANPI Molise, Federazione Anarchica Siciliana FAS, CUB Roma.