'Freedom for Öcalan Initiative' is preparing to hold a sit-in action outside the European Parliament in Strasbourg on September 8-9 in protest at the isolation of the Kurdish Leader in Imralı Island under the slogan “Freedom for Öcalan, Peace for Kurdistan”.

During the same days, a delegation of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) will also have meetings with the EU officials from the European Parliament, European Council, and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).

The sit-in action will start at 09:00 on 8 September and will continue during the sessions of the European Parliament for two days. A large group of people, including members of Kurdish institutions, politicians, academics as well as Kurdish people living in Europe are expected to join the action. Tents will be set up for an overnight stay, while activists will also submit files to the heads of political groups in the EP as well as to the MEPs.

The organising committee reported that delegations will also visit the European Council and CPT and submit files to draw attention to the ongoing aggravated isolation of Öcalan and to invite the EU officials to take action about the issue.

HDP DELEGATION WILL HOLD TALKS

In the meantime, HDP European Office has reported that a delegation of the HDP composed of HDP Co-president Selahattin Demirtaş, HDP Mardin deputy Mithat Sancar, Amed deputy Feleknas Uca and Muş deputy Ahmet Yıldırım will on September 9 meet the EP President Martin Schultz as well as the chairs of all the political groups represented in the EP. The delegation will reportedly organise meetings jointly with the Kurdish Friendship Group in the European Parliament.

Before departing for Strasbourg, HDP Co-president Selahattin Demirtaş will speak at a public meeting on September 8 evening in Kiel city of Germany to discuss the issues of snap elections and peace in Turkey.

KARTAL CALLS FOR STRONG PARTICIPATION IN THE DEMO IN STRASBOURG

Kongra-Gel Co-President and member of Freedom for Öcalan Initiative, Remzi Kartal, told ANF that the two-day sit-in action will be held in order to draw the attention of the EC and EP to the isolation imposed on Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Calling upon all the institutions, NGOs and individuals to ensure strong support and participation in the action, especially the people living in and around Strasbourg.

Kartal further said the action gained importance in this period in terms of drawing attention to the war imposed on the peoples of Turkey and Kurdistan by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in order to sustain his power, as well as the attacks of Turkish security forces on civilians in the Kurdish cities.