Today at Palazzo d’Accursio, the Municipality of Bologna awarded honorary citizenship to Abdullah Öcalan, leader of the Kurdish Liberation Movement. The honorary citizenship was handed over to his nephew and DEM Party MP Ömer Öcalan in a special ceremony.

The event was attended by Deputy Mayor Emily Clancy, Bologna City Council President Maria Caterina Manca, City Council Civic Coalition Group President Detjon Begaj, members of the City Council, Zîlan Diyar, member of the Kurdish Women's Movement in Europe (TJK-E) and Yılmaz Orkun of the Kurdistan Information Bureau.

Ömer Öcalan answered questions from the press before the ceremony, which started with a briefing by Maria Caterina Manca on behalf of the City Council and a brief summary of the life of the Kurdish leader. Manca noted that the leader of millions is being held in isolation and saluted the struggle and political-philosophical deepening that Öcalan has carried out for 25 years under isolation.

'Peace  is not only about war, it is about justice and freedom for all'

Stating that the 'Honorary Citizenship' given to Öcalan is not only symbolic, Manca said that it is also a declaration of support for the historic call he made on February 27th. “Peace is not only about war, it is about justice and freedom for all,” Manca concluded.

Emily Clancy, Deputy Mayor of Bologna, said that Öcalan’s system based on democracy, ecology and women's freedom is an inspiration for everyone. She underlined that Öcalan, with the philosophy of democratic confederalism, offers solutions to social problems not only in Kurdistan but all over the world.

Clancy said that Abdullah Öcalan's ideas are applicable, and the hope of peace and coexistence for the future.”

Describing the loss of women as the loss of society, Clancy read some passages from Öcalan’s women's libertarian and ecological paradigm. Finally, Clancy thanked the City Council and stated that embracing Öcalan means saying 'stop' to oppression.

‘We demand Italy and the European Community to support the peace process’

Ömer Öcalan then said, “We know that Italy is a democratic country and part of the European Union. Therefore, it should support human rights and a political solution for the Kurds in Turkey. When our country becomes democratic, when there is a ceasefire between the peoples and when the conflicts end, this will bring peace. So, Italy and the European community have a responsibility to support the Kurdish people's struggle for democracy.” Remarking that Europe is directly affected by the conflicts in the Middle East, Ömer Öcalan said, “That is why there is a need for peace and we demand Italy and the European Community to support the peace process.”

After the speeches, the 'Honorary Citizenship' given to Öcalan was handed over to his nephew, Ömer Öcalan.

Background

On March 17, Bologna City Council decided to grant 'Honorary Citizenship' to Abdullah Öcalan on the proposal of Emily Clancy, Deputy Mayor of Bologna, and Detjon Begaj, President of the Civic Coalition Group.

Bologna was also home to partisan organizations both in the common struggle of workers and university students against Mussolini's fascism and against the Nazis in Northern Italy, which came under Hitler's occupation during World War II. Partisans actively fought against the Nazis and the fascist Italian army both in the city and in the mountains, and women played important roles in this resistance. After years of resistance, Bologna was liberated from the fascists and Nazis on April 21, 1945.

More than 20 municipalities in Italy have so far granted honorary citizenship to Öcalan. What opened the door to these awards was the “Peace and Human Rights Award” given by the City Council of Cosenza on April 4, 2004. Among the municipalities that granted citizenship to Öcalan are Palermo, Naples, Palagonia, Reggio Emilia, Riace, Martano, Pinerolo, Castel de Giudice, Castel Bottaccio, Berceto, Cinquefrondi and Fossalto.