The sit-in was launched Monday with a public statement and is held by some 140 people representing the European Kurdish Democratic Society Congress (KCDK-E) and the European Kurdish Women’s Movement (TJK-E) constituents. The participants are mostly representatives from Germany, Switzerland and the Alsas region in France.

The demonstration also includes representatives from the Kurdistan Islamic Society (CİK), Democratic Alevi Federation (FEDA) and Êzidî institutions, among the KCDK-E constituents. Ciwanên Azad-Jin and Ciwanên Azad members also participate in the sit-in while political party representatives from other parts of Kurdistan like the PYD and PJAK are also present in the sit-in for Öcalan.

Activists started the day with a salute at 8 a.m. as part of the sit-in and informed the public about what the activities of the day would be. They chanted slogans demanding Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s freedom constantly between 10.00 and 10.15 a.m.

ITALIAN LOCAL ADMINISTRATORS HELD A MEETING

The sit-in included a seminar presented by KCDK-E Co-chair Yüksel Koç about the recent political developments at 14.00. After 16.00, the Italian mayors and city council members who awarded Öcalan with honorary citizenship gave a presentation. The Italian elected officials spoke about their views on Öcalan and their efforts for his freedom.

SEVERAL MEETINGS PLANNED THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE DEMONSTRATION

Since early Tuesday morning, a committee of demonstration participants held a series of meetings through the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). For this, meetings were held with all factions in the PACE and all member state delegations except for Turkey and Azerbaijan.

At 17.00, a committee met with the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) officials.