To achieve the freedom of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is held captive for 18 years under aggravated isolation and has not been heard of at all for the last two years, the European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress  (KCDK-E) has launched the campaign "Freedom for Öcalan" that was resolved upon in its regular congress meeting.

The campaign is set for a whole year. From Japan to Canada, the isolation imposed on Öcalan by the Turkish state will be condemned in a wide spectrum of activities and demonstrations and the freedom of Öcalan demanded. Until now a great amount of protest events have been carried out already in the context of the campaign, especially tent activities in many different countries. From September onwards activities and demonstrations are planned to be held in a lot of countries as well. The main motto of those events will be "Freedom for Öcalan".

Co-chair of the KCDK-E Yüksel Koç talked with the ANF about the campaign and stressed that the freedom of Öcalan is of utmost importance for the Kurdish people. She said: "The freedom of Öcalan is in the first place the freedom of the Kurdish people and the freedom of all peoples of the Middle East", and called on all democratic forces to take part in the campaign.

“ALL ACTIVITIES IN 2017 WILL BE FOR THE FREEDOM OF LEADER APO”

Co-chair of the KCDK-E Yüksel Koç gave an impression of the planned activity events and rallies for 2017 and stated: "The freedom of Leader Apo means to the Kurdish people the world. The mere fact that the Kurdish people have become now a major player in the Middle East, and that the model of Rojava is generally accepted as an example, is credited to and the merit of Leader Apo. Over and above that, not only the Kurds, but also first and foremost the peoples of the Middle East, a great deal of societal forces have from all around the globe have adopted the paradigm of Öcalan and are working actively towards its implementation. The freedom of Öcalan is important not only for the Kurdish people, but for many various peoples worldwide."

Koç drew attention to the resolution of the congress meeting of the KCDK-E and continued: "In the context of the resolution that was agreed upon in our meeting, we will orientate all our activities for the year 2018 to the freedom of Leader Apo. As the starting point of this range of demonstrations, we, the Co-chairs of our respective institutions in the countries in question, have all attended the vigil event for the freedom of Öcalan in Strasbourg. Following this we continued our activities in every country in many different forms. We are conducting many times activity events and demonstrations jointly, in particular such as meetings, marches, stand activities and peoples' assembly.  All institutions affiliated with us in which country ever they are, are taking an active part in the campaign and working very hard."

“EVERYONE SHOULD PARTAKE IN THE DEMONSTRATIONS”

Koç called upon every person to participate in the protest events, saying: "Every Kurd, no matter where they live, should take part in these activities and play an active role. In this respect, every person needs to act according to the big responsibility they shoulder. We cannot receive the smallest piece of information about Leader Apo at all. For this reason it is important for us not to sleep with a light heart and not to sit idly by. The paradigm of Leader Apo has become the progressive humanity's beacon of hope, from Latin America to the Middle East. Standing for a leader, who has become the very hope of the entire world, and achieving his freedom must become every one's priority. It is vital that every person takes part in the activities shouldering this responsibility they carry."

Some of the activities that will be held in the context of the campaign "Freedom for Öcalan" are as follows:

In the first week of August a demonstration organised by the Mesopotamian Faiths Union will take place.

From the 9th to the 12th of August "Freedom for Öcalan" protest events led by the Cîwanên Azad (Free Youth) will be carried out in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries.

On the occasion of the 1st September, the World Freedom Day, mass rallies will be held for one week in Milano, Paris, Cologne, Toronto, Vienna, Zurich, Brussels, Stockholm, Oslo, Marseille, Bern, Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Strasbourg, Hannover, Den Hague, Tokyo, Cannes, Washington, Stuttgart, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Cyprus, Munich and Athens. Also laser show events will be carried out during the "Freedom for Öcalan" protests.

On the 9th September, marches, meetings and rallies will be organised particularly in Europe and around the world.

On the 30th September, Kurdish culture organisations in Cologne and Vienna will perform together with women's movements a play called Öcalan.

On the 1st of October the mobile library Gerok will start off. It will distribute books and information brochures on the philosophy of Öcalan while visiting the major European cities by means of a bus.

Demonstrations, marches and meetings will take place in a number of different cities on the 9th October, the anniversary of the start of the international plot against Abdullah Öcalan.

During the first week of October placards and huge posters for the freedom of Öcalan will be posted up at billboards in many major cities.

The last week of October will see cultural activities in a lot of cities under the lead of the Kurdish Culture Movement.

Also in October a massive march is planned to be staged in Germany's federal state NRW with the participation of 70 000 people.

On the 10th of December, the World Human Rights Day, huge attendance at the vigil event in Strasbourg is expected.