A new international campaign called "Freedom for Öcalan – A Political Solution to the Kurdish Question" has been launched today. As part of the campaign, press conferences have been organised in 74 places around the world, from France, to Belgium, from Italy to the Spanish state, from Germany to the UK, from Ireland to the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Slovenia, Cyprus, Greece and across the ocean in Australia, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador. From South Africa to Kenya, Japan, India, Bangladesh, East Timor, the Philippines.

The campaign demands that Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan be allowed to meet with his lawyers and family and, ultimately, freed under conditions that allow him to play a role in finding a just and democratic political solution to Turkey’s decades-old Kurdish conflict.

In Switzerland, press conferences were held in the cities of Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich, Basel and Bellinzona.

BERN

The press conference in Bern was held at the Bundeshausplatz Square, where the Federal Parliament is located, with the participation of Margaret Kinnernellen, a member of the Democratic Lawyers Association and Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan Committee; David Böhner, Member of Alternative Left in the Bern Cantonal Parliament; Tamil Eelam Committee representative Theapan; Klimastreik activist Nelia Lauper; Tamil Phönix Group; Colombian and autonomous groups in solidarity with the Kurds. After the press statement, representatives of institutions and parliaments made speeches calling for freedom for Abdullah Öcalan.

BASEL

Another press conference took place in front of Basel City Hall. The statement was read by BastA Secretary Franziska Stier to the accompaniment of Tonja Zürcher, Member of the BastA Green Alliance in the Federal Assembly; Iranian activist Biejan Esmaili; BastA Young Alternative Member Marwin Doa and peace activist and human rights advocate Maya Heuschmann.

GENEVA

A press statement announcing support for the campaign was read by Valeria Mazucchi from the University of Zurich at Cornavin Square. The event was attended by the Socialist Party (SP) Federal Assembly Member Laurance Fehlmann Rielle; Christina Kitsos, member of the Geneva City Council Governing Council; Pablo Cruchon from Union Popular, theatre artist Dominique Ziegler, Crıuchon, Theo Frei member Étienne İrehata, Mrap member Gianfranco Fattorini, Daniel Association Director Hafid Quardiri and internationalists.

LAUSANNE

The press statement in Lausanne was read out by historian Mathieu Jaccard at the Palais de Rumine, where the Treaty of Lausanne was signed a hundred years ago. The speakers included Jean Tschopp, Member of the Vaud Grand Council and Chair of the Socialist Group; Ilias Panchard, Member of the Greens in the Parliament of Lausanne; David Payot, Deputy Mayor of Lausanne; Ella-Mona Chevalley, Ensemble à Gauche candidate for the Council of States.

BELLINZONA

The press conference in Bellinzona was held in front of the Ticino Cantonal Parliament in Piazza del Governo Square. The opening speech was made by Dr. Beppe Savary, spokesperson of the Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan Initiative and member of Ticino Cantonal Parliament. Speakers included Dr. Franco Cavalli from Alternative Forum; Gabriela Monti, Member of the Scintilla Collective and Ticinese Socialist Party Member Adriano Venuti.

ZURICH

The press statement in Zurich was made at Rathausbrücke, where the cantonal parliament is located. Speakers included Katharina Prelicz Huber, Member of the Greens in the Federal Parliament; Fabian Molina, Member of SP in the Federal Parliament; Yves Henz, Member of Zurich City Council for the Greens; Andreas Kirstein, Member of Zurich City Council for Alternative List and Richard Wolf, former Cantonal Minister of Security.