Launched globally in October 2023, the international campaign ‘Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question’ is continuing in Turkey with a series of demonstrations in various cities. The ‘March for a Democratic Solution and Freedom’ started on Monday in Amed (tr. Diyarbakir) and is scheduled to end in Ankara on Friday. The action is organised by the ‘Platform of Democratic Institutions’, which includes parties and civil society organisations.

The participants reached Urfa on Tuesday and Antep on Wednesday. The next stopovers to be reached tomorrow are Adana and Mersin. The action calls for a solution to the Kurdish question through dialogue and the inclusion of the imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan in the talks.

Speaking in Antep today, Ayten Kordu, a member of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), said: “In the shadow of the world war, hegemonic powers are vying for a sphere of influence in North-East Syria, where a system of co-existence has been built under the leadership of women. A democratic solution to the Kurdish question is based on certain principles. These include ending the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan. He must be released so that he can work for peace under the necessary conditions. We want freedom and peace and will take our demands to Ankara once again. Our people long for peace. Mr Öcalan's freedom will ensure a democratic life and peace.”

Zeynel Kete, Co-President of the Democratic Alevi Associations (DAD), stated: “This geography has witnessed great difficulties, but still, the peoples have written an epic. While the state built monism, it also created its own colonies. With the laws they enacted, they denied Alevi and other peoples. We set out to prevent the lamentations of mothers every day in the geography we live in, to prevent our children from dying, and to prevent all values of humanity from being trampled underfoot. We struggle for a common life and peace. In order to establish peace, the unity of society must also be preserved. Peace cannot be built if society decays and moves away from its core values. There is a great struggle for the peoples of the world to live freely, especially in Rojava.  This struggle is the struggle of all of us.”

Serdar Tum, a member of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), drew attention to the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı Prison and said, “Mr Öcalan has been kept in isolation for 26 years. In the past, “coaster out of service” was cited as a justification for the prevention of access to the island. Now, time has changed, and now disciplinary penalties are being imposed. If they are sincere, then Mr Öcalan should be allowed to meet with his lawyers. We demand the recognition of the right to hope granted to Mr Öcalan by international law.”