Neoklis Sylikiotis, left-wing Cypriot politician and former MEP of the Left Party AKEL and Vice-Chairman of the Left Group in the European Parliament, spoke to ANF on the importance of Abdullah Öcalan's ideology. The former Cypriot Interior Minister (2006-2012) and Tourism Minister (2012-2013) particularly emphasised the inspiring role of the revolution in Rojava.

In October, a conference on "The paradigm of democratic modernity in contrast to capitalist modernity" was held in Cyprus. The main topic of the conference was the paradigm of Abdullah Öcalan. What was your experience of the conference?

First of all, I would like to say that I have known the Kurdish freedom movement and the Kurdish people for a long time. I got to know the PKK when I was in Germany in the 1980s. Mr Abdullah Öcalan was arrested because of the unacceptable attitude of the Greek government. Since then, we have criticised the attitude of the Greek government. This is a great shame for us. When the trial took place and he was sentenced to death, we in the Left Group in the European Parliament, to which AKEL also belongs, protested massively. As a group, we organise an annual event for Kurdistan and invite Kurds from the HEDEP, the PYD and all others to highlight the Kurdish struggle and put the issue of Abdullah Öcalan's release on the agenda.

The Left Group and AKEL do not accept that liberation movements are labelled as terrorists. We see that all those who fight for the freedom of the people are denounced as terrorists by Turkey. It is also unacceptable that Abdullah Öcalan is being held incommunicado in a prison that has no legal basis in either Turkish or European justice. He has had no contact with his lawyers or relatives for almost three years. This violates every human right. A person must not be subjected to such isolation. This is a method of torture.

Abdullah Öcalan is waging a great struggle, that is a fact. As long as this struggle exists, the Kurdish freedom struggle will not be stopped, no matter how much pressure there is. On the contrary, we can see that this resistance strengthens the struggle of the Kurdish people. Not only in Turkey, but also in Syria, Iraq and other countries. This proves that no matter how many measures an authoritarian state takes against the representative of the Kurdish people, it cannot prevent them from playing their role in the struggle for freedom.

The paradigm of Abdullah Öcalan has become the third way and the hope of freedom for the people. The clearest example of this is the Rojava Revolution. What influence does Abdullah Öcalan have on the peoples in this sense?

Let me say that Rojava, although it is only a small region, is a good example of how the peoples of the region can live together freely despite the attacks from everywhere, especially from Turkey. I must emphasise that we in the European Parliament strongly support the example of Rojava in our activities. Rojava is an example of what Abdullah Öcalan has produced: an example of women's freedom, protection of nature, collectivity, equality and democracy. These elements exist and function in Rojava. They are the examples we keep talking about here. Historically, the Kurds were dependent on religion, the sheikhs and the big landowners for many years. But thanks to the actions of the PKK, democratic structures, collectivity, ecology, etc. have emerged.

The revolution in Rojava is actually a historical example for Cyprus and a source of inspiration for us. Just as the Kurds and Arabs in Rojava have given a fraternal response to nationalism and live as equals in a democratic society, so does the paradigm we are proposing. It shows that the Greek Cypriots can live together with the other peoples in a democratic way and do not need hegemonic power or protection by another power from outside.

The campaign "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question" has been launched recently. People all over the world are calling for Abdullah Öcalan's freedom. What do you think of this campaign?

The Turkish state thought it could destroy the Kurdish freedom movement by arresting and isolating Abdullah Öcalan. We have seen that this is not the case; on the contrary, he has created a new revolution in captivity. This campaign is important because it addresses an issue that we have been talking about for many years. In order to find a peaceful and democratic solution to the Kurdish question, the leader of the Kurdish people must be released. International solidarity with the Kurdish people and Abdullah Öcalan is important. If you think that isolating Abdullah Öcalan and banning him from communicating with the outside world will solve any problem, you are only making the situation more difficult. That is why international solidarity must be strengthened. I believe that Abdullah Öcalan must be released immediately in order to find a just and democratic solution and end the war.

I believe that we have a responsibility beyond Cyprus, that we must do everything we can and that we must support this campaign in Europe, where we sit in the European Parliament, because this is the only way to find a just and democratic solution to the Kurdish question.

What does the tightened isolation and the continued imprisonment of Abdullah Öcalan mean?

Sometimes I think that Turkey tried to kill Abdullah Öcalan, but they didn't succeed because he is a symbol of the Kurdish people. They thought they could end the struggle of the Kurdish people by isolating him, especially in the last three years, but the opposite has happened. The struggle of the Kurdish people is getting stronger and stronger. No matter what measures you take, you cannot end the Kurdish people's struggle for freedom. I think this is the crucial point that we should emphasise together with the Kurds. No matter what measures are taken against Öcalan, they will not be able to break our resistance; on the contrary, we will strengthen our resistance.

What kind of resistance network do you think should be developed for a political solution to the Kurdish question and for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan?

We stand by the Kurdish people in everything they do. We will support everything they do; we always have. There is a very favourable climate for the Kurds in our country. This campaign is very important, I have been watching and following it, as have others; it needs to be highlighted more. Through the campaign we need to learn more about what Öcalan himself is doing in prison, his proposals for a ceasefire, what is being done socially and what the goals are in Rojava. We should also inform the people of Cyprus. In this sense, I believe that Öcalan's books should be translated into different languages. There are very few of them in Cyprus in particular. This thinking needs to be spread more widely. It will be very important to bring the people of Cyprus together with Öcalan's thoughts, ideology and philosophy.