Two Years of Resistance: International Campaign: Freedom for Öcalan – A Political Solution to the Kurdish Question
Dear friends and allies,
We write once again to invite you to take action on the second anniversary of our global campaign “Freedom for Öcalan – A Political Solution to the Kurdish Question”.
Launched in Strasbourg on 10 October 2023 with hundreds of demonstrations worldwide, the campaign has since inspired thousands of actions: readings of Abdullah Öcalan’s work, performances, rallies, press events, conferences, and seminars. Hundreds of articles, appeals, and videos have amplified the call for his freedom. Delegations have visited Istanbul and Ankara to challenge his isolation and meet Kurdish and Turkish peace activists and have held regular actions before the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
People from all walks of life—across ages, nations, faiths, and cultures—have joined the campaign, including Nobel laureates, artists, writers, scholars, politicians, trade unionists, and community leaders. Women’s organizations have been at the forefront, representing Öcalan’s view that a society cannot be free without women’s liberation.
This struggle is being waged by a democratic nation for a leader who has been held as a political prisoner on a Turkish island prison since 1999 for fighting for the freedom of his people. Despite torture and isolation, he has not lost faith in humanity or in peaceful coexistence.
Our call for Öcalan’s freedom and for peace in Turkey and Kurdistan also confronts injustice in Europe. Institutions such as the Council of Europe in Strasbourg are aware of his situation but continue to prioritize the Turkish state’s interests over his human rights and the struggle of the oppressed people he represents.
Over the past two years, Turkey and Kurdistan have seen significant changes. Turkish leaders now recognize that the Kurdish question cannot be resolved by military means, and Öcalan is no longer under complete isolation. In February, he called on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to dissolve and end its armed struggle, and since then he has met political delegations and relatives multiple times. A parliamentary commission is working toward legal reforms to resolve the Kurdish question through peaceful, democratic means.
At this phase of the process, it is important for Öcalan to be able to work freely as the Kurdish movement’s chief negotiator. As Nelson Mandela said, “Only free men can negotiate; prisoners cannot enter into contracts.”
To give this process the best chance of success, we must now redouble our efforts to secure Öcalan’s freedom. We again thank all of our supporters for their solidarity. To those who have not yet joined the campaign, please know that your support is needed now more than ever.
We encourage you to plan actions to mark the second anniversary of the campaign on October 10. Spread the global demand for Öcalan’s freedom and support ongoing efforts toward peace and democratization.
Until victory always,
International Campaign “Freedom for Ocalan, Political Solution to the Kurdish Question”