International support is gathering momentum for the campaign’s demands to free Ocalan and bring an end to Turkey’s aggression.

Peace in Kurdistan Campaign released a statement saying it is "proud to lend its support to this campaign, and stands in solidarity with the Kurdish people in their renewed efforts to achieve freedom."  

The statement added: "The widespread support for Ocalan among the Kurdish community inside Turkey and around the world has never been in any doubt; the need to widen the support is an essential step towards securing Ocalan’s freedom and thereby allowing him to play his rightful part in the process of peace-building between Turkey and the Kurds, as well as in the wider region. A negotiated peace in some form is the only credible means of achieving lasting peace.  

Abdullah Ocalan is one of the outstanding political figures of the Middle East; not only is he an undisputed leader of the Kurdish people, he is an original thinker whose ideas have helped reshape the political landscape of the region."  

Peace in Kurdistan continued: "Ocalan’s thoughts in favour of grassroots democracy and the emancipation of women have been put into great effect in the administration of Rojava in Syria, where the Kurds and their allies have exercised control in the aftermath of the conflict with ISIS (the Islamic State group). The establishment of Rojava has inspired many that a new Middle East, founded on the principles of democracy, freedom and equality, can be successfully achieved."  

Peace in Kurdistan has long called for Ocalan to be freed, and, the statement said, "has always seen him as a political prisoner. Additionally, PIK has argued strongly for Ocalan’s ideas to be taken seriously, and for his leadership of the Kurdish people to be respected. After all, the Kurdish people have repeatedly demonstrated their support for Ocalan throughout the years of his imprisonment. That support shows no sign of abating.  

Turkey’s attempts to portray Ocalan as an ordinary prisoner have failed. Indeed, the extraordinary measures that they have taken to isolate and silence him demonstrate the falsity of that assertion and show that he is seen as a political threat."  

Reminding that "Turkey has sought to deny Ocalan’s political role", Peace in Kurdistan said: "But his stature and influence among the Kurds has increased during his incarceration. Turkey has been unable to silence Ocalan despite restricting his access to visitors. His ideas flourish outside and continue to guide the politics of the Kurdish movement, and are having an influence far beyond the region as well. The two decades-long isolation and mistreatment of Ocalan by the Turkish authorities has totally backfired.  

Under President Erdogan, however, Turkey has opted for military intervention abroad and state repression internally to achieve a victory over the Kurds; a victory that can never be achieved and will only lead to the bloodshed of thousands more, and the permanent repression of the identity of an entire people. In adopting such a futile and reckless policy, Turkey has made itself a destabilising force in the region and become an unreliable ally for its partners."  

Peace in Kurdistan ended the statement by "calling on Turkey to respond to the demands of the Kurds for peace and for talks to be resumed as the only means of resolving the stalemate and bringing this historic conflict to a conclusion. Ocalan should have a place at any negotiating table."