Thousands of people rallied in the German city of Cologne on Saturday demanding freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question. 

The demonstration in Cologne is organised under the slogan ‘Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question’ in the scope of the international campaign ‘Freedom for Öcalan - A Political Solution to the Kurdish Question’, which was launched in October 2023 and recently joined by 69 Nobel Prize winners worldwide. The participants made an urgent appeal for the release of Abdullah Öcalan and the resumption of a dialogue process to resolve the decades-long conflict in Kurdistan through peace negotiations.

The rally started with a moment of silence for the martyrs of Kurdistan and the world revolution and the anthem ‘Ey Raqip’, followed by speeches by Zübeyde Zümrüt and Engin Sever, Co-chairs of KCDK-E (European Democratic Societies Congress), and Ayten Kaplan, representative of TJK-E (Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe).

A written message by the KJK (Kurdistan Women's Union) Coordination said: “Now is the time to succeed in the unceasing struggle of our people and martyrs for a Free Kurdistan and a Free Leader. To this end, history expects us more than ever to lead in struggle, work, organisation, action and labour. We greet you with our most sincere love and loyalty with our belief that you will enlarge the struggle you have carried out until now.”

Geisweid: We demand justice and human rights for Mr Öcalan and all political prisoners

Speaking after, MAF-DAD Co-Chair Heike Geisweid said, “We gathered here today to protest against the inhumane isolation of Mr Abdullah Öcalan. This situation is not only contrary to international standards, but also violates Mr Öcalan's basic human rights on a daily basis. Since 15 February 1999, Mr. Öcalan has been held in the F-Type High Security Prison on Imrali Island and has been subjected to a system of isolation and torture rarely seen in the world.

İmralı Island and the prison have been placed in a ‘crisis situation’ with special restrictions since 16 February 1999. This crisis situation can only be declared regionally and temporarily in extraordinary circumstances such as natural disasters, war or earthquakes.  However, this ‘crisis situation’ was legalised by regulations after July 2016.

From 27 July 2011 until the coup attempt in 2016, the weekly visit requests of Mr Öcalan's lawyers were rejected on various fabricated grounds. The visits could not take place on allegations of unfavourable weather conditions and technical defect of the coaster going to the island. Immediately after the declaration of the state of emergency in 2016, an execution judge in Bursa took the first decision to ban lawyer visits in İmralı Prison. After 15 July 2016, this ban was renewed every six months under the pretext of the state of emergency.

In Mr Öcalan's case, the ‘Right to Hope’ has also been de facto abolished. In a judgement delivered in March 2014, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Turkey had violated Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment - by imposing an irrevocable life sentence on Abdullah Öcalan.

As lawyers, we are well aware of the political and social implications of this situation. Because Mr Öcalan is not just a political prisoner; his case goes beyond individual destiny. He is a symbol of the Kurdish people's decades-long struggle for freedom, self-determination and justice.

Together with our colleagues around the world, we call on the international community not to turn a blind eye to this situation. It is shameful that Western states and international organisations remain silent on this unlawful and inhumane situation.

We call on the European Union, the United Nations and all human rights organisations to finally take a clear stand and put pressure on the Turkish government to end this inhumane practice. It is time for Mr Öcalan to have his fundamental rights restored.

We demand the immediate lifting of the ban on meetings with his lawyers and regular visits to İmralı.

We demand justice and human rights for Mr Öcalan and all political prisoners and demand an end to all forms of isolation.

We demand the implementation of the right to hope for all political prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment in the Turkish criminal justice system.

We demand the immediate release of Mr Abdullah Öcalan.

KNK Co-Chair: The Kurdish people do not want conflict, they want peace

Speaking after, KNK (Kurdistan National Congress) Co-Chair Ahmet Karamus said the following:

Let us turn your valuable and majestic stance into the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, the will of the Kurdish people. The isolation of the leader continues, let's break it. Let's turn this will into the will for a solution in four parts.

Here is our message to the Turkish state, Europe, America, NATO and the whole world: Mr Öcalan is the will of the Kurdish people. Mr Öcalan is ready to take on a role for peace and solution if appropriate conditions are provided. And he says ‘I have this power’. This will and power comes from your struggle and determination; it gives Mr Öcalan the power of leadership and solution.

The Kurdish people are ready for equality, democracy and peace. All four parts of Kurdistan are ready for both peace and resistance with all methods to achieve this goal. The Kurdish people continue the struggle with millions of will. Your resistance and determination strengthen this hope. A solution to the Middle East and the world will be achieved together. A solution is possible under the leadership of Mr Öcalan. If the Turkish state does not want to delay our people and waste time with deception, trickery and lies, it should know that our people have the will, project and means for a solution.

The Kurdish people have made a decision for a solution, for peace. I want to convey this message clearly to the whole world, especially to Europe, America, Russia and the UN. The Kurdish people do not want conflict, they want peace. If the Turkish state has a project for a solution, the Kurdish people are ready for it. This message must be clearly understood and accepted by all parties.

We are once again extending the hand of peace before the situation in the Middle East and the world worsens. Everyone must realise that our demand for peace is for a solution. For a century, the occupying states have wanted to leave the Kurdish question unresolved, but the Kurdish people do not accept this. You are demonstrating the existence of this people in all areas with great will and determination.

We call on all parties and institutions to strengthen the hand of Mr Öcalan. This is both the will of this people and yours. We call out to everyone who hears our voice. Let us raise our voices in the political, diplomatic and resistance fields. Now is the time for a solution. Let us fight together for peace and a solution.

Zübeyde Zümrüt: In this square, we have become one voice. Thousands of greetings to the resistance fighters in the mountains, to the youth, to the women, to all those who support this struggle with their stances, slogans and participation. Let the world see that thousands of people here are giving a message to the international powers with one voice: ‘My will is imprisoned in İmralı. We will be in the squares and fields until his physical freedom is realised.

We appeal to the CPT and the Council of Europe. Listen to these masses. Hear what the Kurdish people and the Kurds in Europe are saying! The message is the stance of the Kurdish people. The Kurdish people say clearly and unambiguously: ‘If there is to be a solution, it is only possible with Leader Öcalan. A solution is not possible without the Leader.’ Leader Öcalan has been imprisoned for 26 years. Our struggle will continue until the Kurdish people liberate him and the Kurdish problem is resolved.  The freedom of Leader Öcalan is the freedom of the Middle East and the peoples. Long live Leader Öcalan!

Engin Sever: Those who have been involved in the conspiracy against Leader Öcalan for 26 years see this crowd. We are gathering around Leader Öcalan and shouting for his freedom. All our organisations in the 4 parts of Kurdistan and we in Europe as KCKD-E have once again announced: Leader Öcalan is our will and binds us all. November is the month of birth for the Kurdish people. Happy birthday! Our appeal to the German government: For 31 years you have been banning this people, their struggle and their values. But you have not achieved any results. The Kurdish people are united around your freedom movement and cry out for freedom. Revoke the 31-year ban, see this will. Long live Leader Öcalan! 

Ayten Kaplan: Today we want to tell the German and European states that we are here and we want Öcalan's freedom... I want to say this to the masses: We are addressing the CPT, the forces of the international conspiracy and all European countries: We are all behind our Leader!

Our leader has been kept under heavy isolation for 26 years. European organisations are also responsible for this isolation. Germany has been banning the PKK for 30 years, trying to keep the Kurdish people under pressure with these bans targeting our identity and language. However, the Kurdish people want freedom and clearly show the address of the solution: Abdullah Öcalan is the interlocutor!

Ömer Öcalan: I brought Mr Öcalan's greetings. Mr Öcalan said to me ‘Wherever you go, convey my greetings’. He sent his special greetings to Kurds and their friends. There have been discussions on Mr Öcalan's message for days. Political parties, organisations and Kurdish institutions have said ‘the address is İmralı and we are behind this message’. They clearly stated that the Kurdish question should be solved by democratic means with Mr Öcalan.

Mr Öcalan stated that he could eliminate the conditions of conflict if the proper conditions arose. He said that he trusted his theoretical and political knowledge. We also trust him. As the Kurds, we are an oppressed people. Mr Öcalan is fighting for democracy and peace and his past experiences are in front of our eyes. The Oslo process and the İmralı process are examples. However, after these processes, unfortunately the Turkish state inflicted a lot of pain on our people.

With great morale, energy and power in prison, Mr Öcalan has expressed that the solution will be an honourable and democratic solution and that he is ready for it.  We, as the people, must add strength to his power. This morale, energy and power is present in Mr Öcalan and it is our duty to support this power.

We must increase our struggle for democracy and peace. The will of our people is clear: We have to develop democratic politics. We must prevent the dirty war. We must strengthen our politics, unity and relations. The solution can be achieved not by writing with a red pen, but with sincerity, seriousness and interlocutors. Isolation cannot continue in an unlawful and illegal manner.

When I met Mr Öcalan, he said that Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysi Aktaş were in good condition. Mr Öcalan always gave us morale. Even though he has been in prison for years, he has never once reflected a negative situation to us. He gave us all strength and hope.

Our burden is heavy, but we can only succeed if we come together with faith and unity. Our attitude and stance is clear: İmralı is the interlocutor. We say again that we are ready for a solution.  We will do people's politics, democratic politics. We say no to elitism and bureaucratic politics. We want direct democracy and this democracy represents Mr Öcalan.

We will increase our struggle with great morale and a clear stance. Success is ours!

Representative of the Internationalist Block: For decades and despite all the pressures, the Kurdish Freedom Movement has repeatedly demonstrated its will for a just peace. Countless times it has emphasised that it is open to a genuine process. The PKK has unilaterally laid down its arms nine times. Abdullah Öcalan, despite being kept in isolation for nearly 26 years, has long been seeking a solution based on dialogue and democracy. A solution that can unite all the peoples of the Middle East.

Turkey, on the other hand, talks about peace, but its actions show the opposite. At the end of October, the fascist Turkish state further escalated its war against the Kurdish community in north-eastern Syria and Bashur (Southern Kurdistan). By bombing people and civilian infrastructure, it tried to completely destroy the basic right to life.

Two weeks ago, the Turkish state appointed trustees to three Kurdish municipalities. Kurdish society and especially the youth are resolutely resisting this undemocratic coup. The state responds with bans on press conferences, violence, repression and torture.

Turkey's peace proposals are nothing but hypocrisy. How can there be a peace in which young people are tortured, people are arrested and civilian villages are bombed? We want just peace. Öcalan can pave the way for this peace and ending his isolation is key to this. We therefore demand the physical freedom of Öcalan and a peaceful solution for all parts of Kurdistan.

The movement around Öcalan shows that the struggle against war and capitalism is possible even today. This movement proves that even a powerful NATO army cannot break the resistance of the peoples.

Our task as the German left is to fight against German imperialism and its war industry. It is to expose the interests of the German state and to make it clear that Germany has supported Turkey's genocidal policy with arms exports for decades.

Large companies such as Thyssen-Krupp, Airbus and Rheinmetall are directly profiting from the occupation of Kurdistan. Just last Wednesday, a deal worth 4 billion Euros for fighter jets was approved. Exactly 4 billion Euros!

However, the German state not only stands to gain economically. It also wants to secure important trade routes through these arms deals. German imperialism needs a brotherhood of arms with Turkey for its claims to power in the world.

Their interest in the repression of peoples is clearly visible in the latest deportation agreements with Erdoğan. Because it is the politically active Kurds who are to be deported en masse to Turkey. The German government is handing them over to the Turkish state. Our response is resistance in every country.

If here in Germany, as a leftist movement, we take to the streets against fascism and criticise racist immigration policies and German imperialism, while at the same time the youth of North Kurdistan resist tirelessly and fight with guerrilla weapons in the free mountains of Kurdistan, then we resist together against the same enemy.

We can be in different parts of the world, whether in Germany, Sudan, Palestine or Kurdistan. But in the end, as democratic forces, we are fighting against a common enemy.  We fight together against all forms of oppression, militarism and state violence, but above all for life, liberty and a just peace!

We see in the Middle East - from the mountains to Kobanê – that the resistance continues.

Down with fascism, down with imperialism!

Long live the social revolution!

Long live the guerrilla resistance!

Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan!

Long live international solidarity!

Sajanthan Kethiswaran on behalf of the Tamil Freedom Movement: Dear friends and comrades. We are very happy and proud to be here today to demand the freedom of a great visionary, revolutionary, guerrilla, politician and philosopher. We are talking about the founder of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan or Leader Apo.

Even the name of Abdullah Öcalan strikes fear in the rulers of the imperialist states. That is why they are trying to ban even the mention of his name. But we do not succumb to this, on the contrary, together with you we demand the freedom of this great man immediately; he has been unjustly imprisoned in Turkish prisons for nearly 26 years.

We have gathered here today to demand his freedom. In many places the Tamil Freedom movement is also taking part in this struggle. Your struggle is our struggle.

Today, at a historic moment when many peoples are fighting for their freedom, Abdullah Öcalan is an important key figure. Although the Turkish regime and its western allies deny it, the key to a just peace is in Imrali. On the other hand, the Turkish state is trying to exterminate the Kurdish people, launching air strikes and killing recklessly.

The German state supports this policy by criminalising the Kurdish people with 129b thought crimes, stigmatising us all as terrorists and making society fear us. But we are the ones who raise the banner of social progress and humanism. The politically conscious people of Tamil Eelam and its diaspora stand with you.

This is our historical similarity, which we share with the Palestinian people and with many other peoples. Let us build the international unity of oppressed peoples to fight for the freedom of our prisoners and brutally expose the impunity of the executioners who torture in the name of imperialism. Together we can achieve many things that we cannot yet see today, but every day we take one step forward. Victory is ours, it is only a matter of time.

We demand together with you: Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan! Freedom of all political prisoners in Kurdistan, Tamil Eelam and all over the world! The right of all peoples and all people to self-determination! Against fascism and imperialism! For a solidary world of plurality and diversity!