The Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress in Europe (KCDK-E) announced demonstrations for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan in Strasbourg, Europe, Canada and Australia on 2 September.

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

"The isolation of Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] is based on a system seeking to destroy the identity of free Kurds. It stands for the total attack that is to complete the genocide of the Kurdish people. Since Rêber Apo has become a representative of Kurdish existence and freedom, he is permanently considered as the first target of attack. The isolation applied against him simultaneously pursues the intention of genocide. It is directed against his intention to solve the Kurdish question by democratic political means. The isolation is imposed by international powers and stands for the attack on freedom, democracy and a solution to the Kurdish question. The Kurdish question is not to be solved, the conflicts of interests and the war are to continue. The will and the existence of free Kurds are to be eliminated.

Rêber Apo is being held under isolation conditions by the USA, Turkey and other international powers. It is the USA and the powers of the system of capitalist modernity that want to destroy the existence of free Kurds and therefore give the greatest support to Turkey. With this attitude, they continue to participate in the genocide and to be direct accomplices in this crime.

The international powers and first and foremost the USA should give up their support for the continuous bloodshed caused by the attacks of AKP/MHP fascism. 25 years of isolation and increased oppression of working people, women and youth have only led to more massacres and atrocities. It has not achieved anything else.

The attacks on the Kurdish people and the aggression against women, young people and other peoples continue. The occupiers are drowning the Middle East and Kurdistan in blood and using all methods of dirty warfare including chemical weapons. The army of the NATO member Turkey is committing war crimes in the name of international powers.

We know that the isolation of Rêber Apo is being used as a method of war to prevent a solution to the Kurdish question through democratic means. It includes the danger of genocide against the Kurdish people. In order to prevent precisely that, it is fundamentally necessary that Rêber Apo, as the will of the Kurdish people, be released unconditionally and immediately, so that he can live in free conditions and continue his democratic struggle.

We call on our people, our friends and humanity to rally around the Kurdish people’s righteous demand and to enhance the struggle to make sure that this demand is answered. We call for strong participation in the demonstrations to be held in Strasbourg, Europe, Canada and Australia on 2 September. The central demonstration will start at ten o'clock on the Place de la Republique (Place of the Republic), 67000 Strasbourg with participants from France, Switzerland and southern Germany.”