"Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, Peace for the World and Stability Conference" issues final declaration

The final declaration of the "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, Peace for the World and Stability Conference" held in Cape Town was published. The conference demanded the release of the Kurdish people's Leader and all other prisoners.

The final declaration of the "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, Peace for the World and Stability Conference" held in Cape Town, South Africa, was published. The declaration said that the fact that Abdullah Öcalan was not allowed to meet with his lawyers and family members for two years constitutes a violation of international law. “We call for immediate facilitation of the meeting of 's lawyers and family," the statement said.

Underlining that the release of Kurdish people's Leader Abdullah Öcalan is of critical importance for the peace process in the Middle East, the statement said: “We demand the Turkish government to immediately release Mr. Abdullah Öcalan and all other political prisoners.”

The declaration also called on the South African government, the ruling ANC and all other political and progressive organizations to support the cause of the Kurdish people in their struggle for freedom, dignity, democracy and human rights.

The conference also called on the African Government, SACP, COSATU and all progressive political and social formations to put pressure on the Syrian government to start talks with the Kurdish people.

The final declaration, which also exposed Turkey's invasion attacks in South Kurdistan, said: “We call on all solidarity organizations and the South African government to put pressure on the Turkish government to stop its continued and systematic attacks on Kurdish areas in Northern and Eastern Syria as well as in Northern Iraq, to end putting the lives of civilians at risk, and to stop building and maintaining bases and outposts in these areas.”