The European Kurdistan Democratic Societies Congress (KCDK-E) announced a series of actions across Europe to mark the 24th anniversary of the abduction of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan from Kenya and handover to Turkey as a result of an international conspiracy in 1999.

The KCDK-E statement released on Friday includes the following:

"Many European states claim to be committed to the development of democracy, equality, freedom and the resolution of problems through dialogue. Abdullah Öcalan, the representative of the Kurdish people, came to Europe before 1998 to stand up for freedom and equality, i.e. basic human values, for the Kurdish people, and to solve the Kurdish question through dialogue. The European countries, the supposed protectors and defenders of these values, did not allow Abdullah Öcalan to stay there to solve the Kurdish question through dialogue and they sacrificed international law and human values to dirty political interests.

24 years have passed since Abdullah Öcalan was abducted in an international conspiracy and incarcerated on the prison island of Imrali. For 24 years, our representative has been held in a solitary cell and in severe solitary confinement, against all international law.

The Turkish state is trying to prevent his voice from being heard and is severing Imrali's connection to the whole world. For this purpose, a special torture system has been created that contradicts all universal principles and norms and even Turkish law. There is no law and no justice in this system. Abdullah Öcalan is kept in total isolation because of hostility towards Kurds. There has been no sign of life from him for 22 months.

The Kurdish people's concern for the health and safety of Abdullah Öcalan and anger over this situation has increased. Encouraged by the silence of the Council of Europe, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), international organisations and powers, the AKP/MHP regime has made isolation and torture in Imralı a model that has been extended to all prisons and society. As if that were not enough, the Turkish state attacks Kurds not only in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan, but also in other parts of Kurdistan and does not hesitate to use chemical weapons.

Millions of Kurds recognise Abdullah Öcalan as their representative. Just as Nelson Mandela became the key to dialogue and a solution to the South African question, Abdullah Öcalan is the key to a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish question. Incidentally, this is also recognised by the state itself.

Abdullah Öcalan represents the Kurdish people's struggle for democracy and freedom. The resistance of Abdullah Öcalan in Imralı, the paradigm he developed and his ideology of women's liberation spread worldwide and became universal. Today, women and peoples all over the world are demanding their rights under the slogan 'Jin Jiyan Azadî' [Woman, Life, Freedom]. He brought the freedom struggle of Kurdistan to the international level. He built a democratic confederal system in which not only the Kurds but also all other ethnic and religious groups living in the region participate freely.

For the solution to the Kurdish question, for the democratisation of Turkey and the Middle East, for the ending of the conflicts, Abdullah Öcalan must be free, and only then can he play his role. For these reasons, well-known politicians, lawyers, journalists, academics and trade unionists from all over the world are campaigning under the slogan 'Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan', founding initiatives and doing pioneering work.

As KCDK-E and as the Kurdish people, we call on the CPT, the Council of Europe and the UN to put an end to the torture system on Imrali and to send a delegation urgently.

We call on all international organisations, trade unions, parties, activists and all those who stand for democracy and human rights to actively participate in our work for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan."

KCDK-E announced the following demonstrations and actions from the 1st to the 15th of February:

Long marches

6-11 February: Long march led by internationalists from Geneva to Strasbourg

Start: Geneva, Place de Neuve, 9.30 a.m.

5-11 February: Long march led by Kurdish youths from Heilbronn to Strasbourg

Start: Heilbronn, 12.00 p.m.

GERMANY

2 February: Frankfurt am Main, Bockenheimer Warte, 1.30 p.m.

3 February: Bonn, Marktplatz, 12:00 hrs

4 February: Kiel, Kaufland Mettenhof, 10.00 a.m.

18 February: Hanover-Laatzen, Leine-Center (Erich-Panitz-Straße), 10.00 a.m.

THE NETHERLANDS

4-5 February: Radarstraat, The Hague, 10.30 a.m.

CYPRUS

15 February: Dali, 9.00 a.m.

BELGIUM

8-9 February: Place Luxsemburg, Brussels, from 12.00 to 4.00 p.m.

AUSTRALIA

5 February: Sydney, boat tour

11 February: Rally at Town Hall, 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.

11 February: Rally in Melbourne, Place: Victoria State Library 2.00 p.m.- 4.00 p.m.

11 February: Seminar in Melbourne, 7.00 p.m.- 9.00 p.m.

12 February: Sydney, Convoy tour, 2.00 p.m.- 5.00 p.m

15 February: Demonstration and press statement in front of NSW State Parliament

FRANCE

10 February: Marseille, Martigues Town Hall, 10.00 a.m.

AUSTRIA

10 February: Vienna, Argentinierstr 14, 12.00 p.m.

SWEDEN

11-12 February: Stockholm

FINLAND

14-15 February: Helsinki

GREECE

14-15 February: Lavrio Camp

TORONTO

11 February: March

12 February: Convoy tour

15 February: March

ENGLAND

3 February: London, Piccadilly Circus Station, W1), 9HS (Piccadilly Line), 5.00 p.m.

CENTRAL DEMONSTRATIONS

On 11 February, central rallies will be held in Strasbourg with participation from Germany, Switzerland, Northern France, the Netherlands and Belgium, in Marseille with participation from Southern France, in Stockholm and Gothenburg, and at country level in Austria, Italy, England, Greece, Cyprus, Canada, Australia, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Norway, Finland and Denmark.

The action timetable will continue to be updated.