The Co-Presidency Council of the Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress in Europe (KCDK-E) released a statement calling for actions for the freedom of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan next Saturday.

Permanent torture system on Imrali

Regarding Öcalan's situation, the statement said: "The Turkish state is permanently continuing the isolation of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and the torture system on Imrali. It is encouraged by the silence of the European and international institutions. The isolation regime has now spread to the whole of Europe." The KCDK-E considers the current discussion of the situation of the prisoners on Imrali by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to be important. However, the association criticises the fact that the Turkish state was given until September 2022 to comment. This long period of time is "unacceptable", it said.

"Öcalan is the hope for peace in the Middle East"

The KCDK-E statement continued, "Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] is not just anyone. Rêber Apo is the hope of the peoples of the Middle East and the driving force against war and for a peaceful solution. With the paradigm he has developed, he represents the peoples of the world, the intellectuals and all those who want freedom and democracy.

This is the reason for the attacks of the AKP/MHP alliance and for the silent support of the international powers for this policy. The international isolation seeks to prevent the spread of these universal ideas. Their aim to push back the freedom struggle by isolating Rêber Apo has not been achieved. Despite all kinds of torture, oppression and massacres, the struggle for freedom is moving forward. In the person of Rêber Apo, war is being waged against all peoples in Turkey and the Middle East and against the values of the Kurdish people. This is how the dictator Erdoğan wants to ensure his survival.

"Freedom of Öcalan means democracy, freedom and social peace"

The isolation of Rêber Apo is actually a war against an equal, democratic and free tomorrow in which the peoples live together. Therefore, the freedom of Rêber Apo means democracy, freedom and social peace.

All over the world, in Turkey and the Middle East, democrats are uniting in the struggle against the isolation of Rêber Apo. Their support is growing every day. The whole world is realising that the way to a democratisation of Turkey and a solution to the Kurdish question is through the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan.

The action group 'Freedom for Abdullah Ocalan', which includes institutions, intellectuals, personalities and organisations that support peace, democracy, justice and freedom, has declared 10 December as the Day for the Freedom of Abdullah Ocalan. On 11 December, actions will take place around the world within this framework.

Call for strong participation in actions

The actions will contribute to the campaign for the freedom of Rêber Apo. If they are broad, creative and diverse, they will create a worldwide stir and put Öcalan's freedom on the agenda. As KCDK-E, we call on the Kurdish people and all intellectuals, artists, environmentalists, women's rights campaigners and all those who stand for freedom and equality to participate in the day with creative actions."