London hosted event for Kurdistan and Öcalan

The work of the UK Justice for Kurdistan Campaign continues after its establishment a few months ago.

The London Metropolitan Municipality hosted a reception promoted by the municipal councillors on Monday night. Local mayors, council members, Kurdish representatives, trade unionists and activists from the Öcalan Freedom Campaign attended the reception together with activists on hunger strike.

Ali Gül Özbek, one of the executives of the Justice Campaign for Kurdistan, made the opening speech. Uzbek drew attention to the ongoing human rights violations in Kurdistan and added they would work for solidarity with political prisoners.

Justice for Kurdistan Campaign deputy chair Kurdistan and London Metropolitan Municipality Councilor, Unmesh Desai, said they will raise their voice against human rights violations in Turkey.

Desai demanded freedom for Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and requested “the Turkish state officials to return to the negotiation table without wasting time".

Half a million strong British Union of Teachers International Relations Officer, Christine Blowers, said: “We are not free, none of us free without Öcalan.”

Biggest British civil society organisation against the war, Stop the War Coalition Chairman Murad Qureshi also drew attention to the importance of freedom for Öcalan in the Middle East.

Justice for Kurdistan Campaign Board Member and Member of Ealing City Council, Aysha Raza said: “British progressive people in the region has no other allies than the Kurdish people" and explained the importance of solidarity.

Dennis McNulty who started the Freedom for Öcalan Campaign in the GMB Union said: “The one light that will illuminate the darkness of the Kurdish people in Turkey, is the struggle led by Öcalan.”

Member of the Board of Directors of Justice for Kurdistan Campaign and Brent Municipal Cabinet Member Tom Miller, Haringey Council Member Makbule Küçük and Kensington Chelsea Council Member Mohammed Bakthiar, Britain Alevi Federation chair, Israfil Erbil were also present at the reception and made short speeches.

The closing speech of the reception was made by Elif Sarıcan on behalf of the British Kurdish People's Assembly.