On February 15, 1999, Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan was abducted from the Greek embassy in Nairobi to the prison island of Imrali in Turkey in a plot involving secret services of various states. This marked the beginning of almost 22 years of total isolation for the political thinker and freedom fighter, interrupted only by a few visits from lawyers. From prison, Öcalan managed to move the world in the truest sense of the word with his radical democratic concept of democratic confederalism as a practical alternative to capitalist modernity. At the latest with the practical implementation of this social model in Rojava, Öcalan's ideas are discussed worldwide and move millions today. February 15 is thus not only a somber date for the Kurds.

Worldwide actions from February 1 to 15

The co-presidency of the largest Kurdish umbrella organization KCDK-E is calling for a 15-day action campaign to mark the 22nd anniversary of Öcalan's abduction. From February 1 to 15, actions will take place worldwide under the slogan "The plot will not be forgotten."

The KCDK-E called on all internationalists to participate in the protests, saying: "The international plot of February 15 is now entering its 22nd year. We are in a historic period in which a strong response is needed against the forces behind the plot. It must be a response that ends the plot. As part of the 'Time for Freedom' campaign, we will also join the campaign against the plot."

Action dates

The KCDK-E is planning daily actions and three-day marches in different countries. In addition, a mobile Öcalan library will travel through cities in Europe, Canada and Australia. Books and brochures containing Öcalan's concepts and thoughts will be distributed on the tour.

In Europe, the mobile Öcalan library will visit Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, Rome, Athens, Brussels, Marseilles, Zurich, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo, Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart, Darmstadt, Hamburg, Kassel, London and Cyprus.

On February 5, a long march of internationalist and Kurdish youth will start in Hanau. The march is scheduled to reach Strasbourg on February 12. A demonstration will take place there on February 13.

Decentralized demonstrations will also be held on February 13. In Germany, demonstrations are planned so far in Berlin, Hanover, Kassel, Frankfurt am Main, Mannheim, Darmstadt, Saarbrucken, Stuttgart, Pforzheim, Freiburg, Heilbronn, Lake Constance, Nuremberg, Ulm and Munich.

On February 14, Kurdish youth will organize actions in different regions. On February 15, demonstrations of the youth movement are to follow in all regions. In addition, the Kurdish women's movement TJK-E will be organizing rallies in front of Turkish and US consulates on February 15.