Italian senators Gianni Marilotti and Roberto Rampi visited the vigil for Abdullah Öcalan in Strasbourg on Wednesday. In a conversation with activists of the Kurdish Women's Movement in Switzerland (YJK-S), who have taken over the vigil this week, Marilotti and Rampi expressed their support for the action, that has been taking place before the Council of Europe and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) since 2012.

According to the senators Europe must finally take serious steps against the isolation of Öcalan on the Turkish prison island Imrali and for his release.

“Abdullah Öcalan is an important political figure and a great thinker. All his work is aimed at the freedom of people, especially women. It is worrying not to have any news about him,” Rampi said. The Partito Democratico politician also announced that he would appeal to the government in Rome to act for the release of Öcalan.