A vigil by the Democratic Kurdish Community in Switzerland has been taking place in front of the UN headquarters in Geneva since 25 January 2021. Every Wednesday, activists stage a protest in front of the United Nations building to demand the release of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan. The action is carried out as part of the 'Dem dema azadiye' [Time for Freedom] campaign and directed against the isolation of the Kurdish leader on the Turkish prison island of Imrali, the Turkish occupation attacks on Kurdistan, the massacres committed in Kurdish territories and the silence of the UN.

During this week's demonstration, which is held at a tent set up in Nations Square where the UN Office is located, activists paid tribute to Bîşeng Brûsk (Rojda Bilen) and Leşker Cûdî (Metin Tetik), who fell as martyrs in the Kurdish freedom struggle.

Speaking here, DKTM (Democratic Kurdish Comuunity Center) Co-Chair Naile Budak commemorated Ali Haydar Kaytan (Fuat), one of the fallen founding members of the PKK, and the 33 intellectuals who were murdered at the Madımak Hotel, on the 32nd anniversary of the massacre.

Veysel Kuşkanadı read the press statement by the Action Committee. Referring to Abdullah Öcalan’s historic call on February 27, Kuşkanadı pointed to the will for lasting peace and a democratic solution among the Kurds and other peoples of the Middle East.

Stating that the AKP government is still ignoring calls for dialogue, Kuşkanadı called for an end to the repressive policy toward the Kurdish question and for the initiation of direct talks and a dialogue process.

Kuşkanadı stated that all political prisoners and sick prisoners in particular must be released, the severe isolation of Abdullah Öcalan must be ended and his freedom secured. He called on the people of Turkey to raise their voices for peace and defend democratic coexistence against this silent course of events. “The Kurdish people are ready for peace. A democratic solution is in our common interest,” he added.