22 June 2026 | 13:00 | Strasbourg, France
Outside of the Council of Europe
The International Campaign Freedom for Öcalan, Political Solution to the Kurdish Question invites friends, journalists, and members of the public to join an event and press conference marking the 14th anniversary of the permanent vigil for the freedom of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan.
For fourteen years, the Vigil for Öcalan has stood as a symbol of international solidarity and resistance. Together with the International Campaign built over the past several years, it has played a significant role in advancing the demand for Öcalan’s freedom and for a democratic and political solution to the Kurdish question.
This year’s anniversary takes place during a critical political moment. Following Abdullah Öcalan’s 2025 call for “Peace and Democratic Society” and the ongoing negotiation process in Turkey, international mobilisation and support are more important than ever to ensure progress toward a peaceful and democratic resolution.
The Council of Europe has a key responsibility in this process, particularly in light of the 2014 European Court of Human Rights ruling in Öcalan v. Turkey (No. 2), which condemned Öcalan’s prison conditions as violating the prohibition of torture and affirmed the principle of the “right to hope.” Recognition of this right would represent an important first step toward ending more than 27 years of extreme isolation and establishing the legal basis for Öcalan’s release.
From 22–26 June, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will convene in Strasbourg, making this anniversary a crucial opportunity to raise international demands for freedom, justice, and a political solution to the Kurdish question.
The event will bring together international campaign participants and supporters to discuss current political developments and the next steps for the campaign. It will be followed by a public press conference in front of the Council of Europe, during which a statement on behalf of the international campaign will be delivered.
Join us in Strasbourg and raise your voice for freedom, peace, and a democratic solution!