The ‘Freedom Ship’ activists, who left Lavrio, in Athens, on November 9, have made a symbolic landing in Naples today, the 23rd anniversary of the arrival of Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan in Italy. While demanding the freedom of Öcalan, the action also aims at bringing the Kurdish leader’s democratic confederalism project to wider audiences and to increase the struggle against the attacks of the Turkish state.

Around 40 people, among them intellectuals, writers, journalists, lawyers, civil society representatives and activists from different parts of the world, have been welcomed by hundreds of people in Naples.

A press statement made by the activists at the Pisacane Pass in the port of Naples said the following:

“Today, on the 23rd anniversary of Kurdish Leader Abdullah Ocalan’s arrival in Italy, we have arrived in Naples, the last stop of our freedom journey. Freedom for Öcalan Ship Action, started with diplomatic talks in Athens, on 8 November 2021, and our ship departed from Lavrio Port on 9 November.

40 activists from Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Switzerland, Greece, Catalan, Spain, France, Italy, Kurdistan, academics, journalists, parliamentarians, lawyers, writers, philosophers, activists and civil society representatives participated in the action. Discussions on understanding Leader Apo's philosophy and on developing the "CAMPAIGN FOR FREEDOM FOR ÖCALAN" provided valuable outcomes during this journey.

Even though we had to change the vehicle we used at the beginning of our action due to bad weather conditions and technical reasons, we reached Naples with determination and faith on November 12, the day Leader Apo arrived in Italy 23 years ago.

We can easily say that Abdullah Ocalan became an international figure despite the efforts of international forces who wanted to take Leader Apo prisoner and liquidate his thought and struggle with an international conspiracy.

Here, on behalf of the Freedom for Öcalan Initiative and the entire Kurdish people, we greet Naples and other Italian municipalities, the Italian people, who gave honorary citizenship to our leader. The fact that all Italian and other municipalities follow this honorable behavior of the municipality of Naples will greatly contribute to the liberation of Leader Apo and the Kurdish people. As the Freedom for Öcalan Initiative, we once again declare Leader Apo's demand for freedom to the whole world. We say, "The time has come for freedom for Öcalan."

The freedom of Reber Apo will not only end the wars and massacres in Kurdistan, but also bring democracy in Turkey and the free life and unity of peoples in the Middle East. Defending Öcalan's freedom means defending a solution against war, freedom against oppression, fraternity against marginalization, and living together against discrimination.

As activists, one of our main goals is to stop the Turkish army, which uses chemical weapons against the Kurdish people and the guerrillas who defend freedom, while demanding the physical freedom of Leader Öcalan.

One of our important demands is that the Kurdish freedom movement PKK, which fought heroically against ISIS and saved the peoples of the world from great trouble, be removed from the list of terrorist organizations.

Our "Freedom Will Prevail, Freedom for Öcalan Ship" action ends here. We will continue our "Freedom for Öcalan" campaign. At the same time, we will carry Leader Apo's democratic, ecological and women's libertarian philosophy to the whole world with greater enthusiasm and determination.

We call on all peoples of Kurdistan, the peoples of the world, friends, to participate in this action at this historical moment and to fight for the physical freedom of Leader Öcalan.

FREEDOM TO LEADER APO, PEACE TO KURDISTAN”