The International Conference on Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and Solution to the Kurdish Question took place last weekend in Rome. More than 300 people from 16 countries attended the conference, where discussions were held on the international campaign ‘Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a Political Solution to the Kurdish Question’, launched worldwide on October 10, 2023.

The participants discussed the actions and activities carried out within the scope of the campaign, its results and what should be done next. Another topic of discussion was Öcalan’s February 27 ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society’, how his historic call should be responded to, and what attitude civil society should take for the construction of democratic society and peace.

‘Öcalan’s freedom is important not only for Kurdistan or Kurds, but for the whole world’

Among the participants of the conference was Professor Giovanni Russo Spena, a lawyer who has been involved in and led leftist organizations in Italy for many years. Speaking to ANF, Spena said that the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan is important not only for the Middle East, Kurdistan or Kurds, but for the whole world.

Stating that the Democratic Confederalism theory of Öcalan is based on peace, equality and solidarity, Spena noted that the Kurdish leader talked about peace at a time when all states wanted war, so his theories are important for the whole world. He remarked that Democratic Confederalism offers an alternative and another vision for the entire world: “This is very important not only for militants, but also for democratic, peace-loving people.”

'We are Öcalan, and Öcalan is us'

Referring to Öcalan’s February 27 call, Spena said, “Öcalan can play a critical role. Right now, there is a war between Erdoğan's autocracy and democracy. People in Istanbul are on the streets to defend their rights. We see that we are part of this community who are taking to the streets. At the same time, these protests are important for Öcalan and for the Kurdish people. Öcalan is calling for peace. When Öcalan is free, we can meet peace.”

Spena concluded: “We are Öcalan, and Öcalan is us. All the towns of Kurdistan are our sisters, our sons. We are a family and Öcalan is the father of our family.”