Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, International Campaign
Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, International Campaign
The international campaign “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan” has been launched today in Brussels. Attending the press conference were BDP deputy Ayla Akat, German deputy Andrej Hunko, Joe Ryan, Chair of Westminster Justice and Peace, Reimar Heider, International Initiative "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan– Peace in Kurdistan".
The petition launched today has already been signed by many notable people worldwide, among which are philosopher Antonio Negri, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, philosopher Immanuel Wallerstein, to name but a few.
The international petition demands freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and the political prisoners in Turkey. They are of the opinion that Öcalan's freedom would mean a breakthrough in Turkey's democratization and a peace process in Kurdistan.
The Kurdish question is more relevant today than ever before. It affects Iraq, Iran, Syria and especially Turkey, and represents the biggest – and still unresolved – problem in the Middle East. The conflict between the Turkish State and the Kurdish freedom movement still continues.
Although it is more than clear that the demands of the Kurdish people for their cultural and political rights are no longer going to be resolved by a military solution, the bloody conflict continues because the necessary steps towards a peaceful resolution have not been taken.
At the press conference, the first signatories will speak about both the
motive behind the campaign and the importance of Abdullah Öcalan’s release
from prison in the broader quest for a resolution to the Kurdish question. It is only through genuine bilateral negotiations with the legitimate political representative of the Kurdish people that lasting peace can be secured.
The petition launched today has already been signed by many notable people worldwide, among which are philosopher Antonio Negri, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, philosopher Immanuel Wallerstein, to name but a few.
The international petition demands freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and the political prisoners in Turkey. They are of the opinion that Öcalan's freedom would mean a breakthrough in Turkey's democratization and a peace process in Kurdistan.
The Kurdish question is more relevant today than ever before. It affects Iraq, Iran, Syria and especially Turkey, and represents the biggest – and still unresolved – problem in the Middle East. The conflict between the Turkish State and the Kurdish freedom movement still continues.
Although it is more than clear that the demands of the Kurdish people for their cultural and political rights are no longer going to be resolved by a military solution, the bloody conflict continues because the necessary steps towards a peaceful resolution have not been taken.
At the press conference, the first signatories will speak about both the
motive behind the campaign and the importance of Abdullah Öcalan’s release
from prison in the broader quest for a resolution to the Kurdish question. It is only through genuine bilateral negotiations with the legitimate political representative of the Kurdish people that lasting peace can be secured.
