On Wednesday it was the turn of Kurdish musicians to call for Abdullah Öcalan’s Right to Hope in the way only musicians can, bringing their songs to the entrance of the Council of Europe.
Speaking at the rally, artist Hekîm Sefkan recalled that actions for Öcalan’s freedom have been organized for years wherever Kurds live, adding that members of TEV-ÇAND have come together for the same purpose. Sefkan said,
“Historic steps have been taken across the Middle East and Europe based on Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society.’ We see his freedom as our duty and continue our actions. We stand before international institutions demanding the right to hope.”
Sefkan continued: “No matter what difficulties we face, we will continue our struggle for the right to life of political prisoners. Despite being behind bars and on that distant island, Leader Öcalan is opening a door of hope to the Middle East and all humanity with his ideas. We artists, in particular, see it as our duty to continue the process he started. European institutions, parliaments, and international mechanisms must understand that the ‘right to hope’ is necessary for this positive process to succeed. Granting Leader Öcalan the right to hope means opening the door to peace for the Middle East, Europe, and humanity.”
Sefkan reiterated that they would continue to take action for the freedom of Öcalan.
Berdan Öztürk, Co-Chair of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) and Member of Parliament for the DEM Party, recalled the decisions taken by the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights regarding Turkey. He stated, “International institutions have a responsibility to remove the obstacles to peace, enable the Kurdish People’s Leader to play his role, and ensure his physical freedom.”The rally ended with a musical performance by the artists.