Kurdish people and their friends continue their actions and activities as part of the international campaign “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a Political Solution to the Kurdish Question”. The campaign was launched with press conferences and various events in 74 (representing Öcalan’s age) places around the world on 10 October 2023.

The launch date of the campaign coincided with the 25th anniversary of the beginning of what the Kurds call “the international conspiracy”. On 9 October 1998, Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan was forced to depart from Syria in 1998. Expelled from Syria, Abdullah Öcalan decided to make his way to Europe rather than to the PKK's strongholds in the Kurdish mountains of Northern Iraq or North-Western Iran. As all European countries refused to grant him leave or entry, the Kurdish leader was finally flown to the Greek Embassy at Nairobi, Kenya via Moscow, Athens and Corfu, in what became increasingly obvious as a deliberate conspiracy to maneuvre him into a position where he could be handed over to the Turkish authorities as soon as safeguards of European law were effectively by-passed. On 15 February 1999, the Kurdish leader was arrested in Kenya and handed over to Turkey, where he has since been subjected to unlawful treatment in violation of international law.

Significant actions and events are scheduled to take place across the globe on the 26th anniversary of the international conspiracy against the Kurdish leader who has since been held in the İmralı Island Prison in a state of total isolation contrary to international law and Turkish law itself.

Numerous actions and activities have since been planned and carried out within the framework of the campaign, the second phase of which was launched on 1 March 2024. After a year of mobilization all around the world, Turkish state authorities finally admitted the imposition of isolation on Abdullah Öcalan as the campaign exposed the isolation and torture system in İmralı on an international scale. 

Despite the fact that Turkish authorities have admitted the isolation in İmralı and brought up the “Right to Hope’ for Öcalan recently, there has been no change in the Kurdish leader’s conditions yet.

Zübeyde Zümrüt, Hatip Dicle and Sinan Önal, who are among the spokespersons of the international campaign, spoke to ANF about their objectives in the new year.

‘Öcalan has become a global leader’

Hatip Dicle said that Abdullah Öcalan has become a global leader thanks to the projects he offers to solve the crises in the Middle East and the world. Because of his role, the demand for “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan” has also become global, said Hatip Dicle and realled the following about the actions and activities by Kurdish friends who came together globally: “In addition, local networks were founded by trade unions, parliamentarians and activists in every country. The Nobel Prize initiative was also involved in this process.”

‘Second phase aims for Öcalan’s freedom’

Dicle remarked that the first stage of the campaign focused on mobilization and raising awareness, and after a period of intensified actions, pressure was put on Turkey and the isolation became visible. The second phase, on the other hand, focused on ensuring the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, he noted.

“The current so-called attempts by the Turkish state to establish dialogue with him requires us, all the components of the ‘Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, a Political Solution to the Kurdish Question’ campaign, to demand his freedom in a much stronger and organized manner,” Dicle added.

‘The solution will be achieved with his freedom’

Dicle pointed out that Öcalan’s release from İmralı and his physical freedom will bring about a solution to the Kurdish question. The torture Öcalan has been subjected to has been seen by the entire world and the women's libertarian, democratic and ecological life paradigm he presents has been widely embraced, Dicle said.

Activities to be expanded in Europe, Kurdistan and around the world

Zübeyde Zümrüt announced that a large-scale event will be organised in Strasbourg, France, this year like the rally held in Cologne, Germany last year. Various groups from many countries are expected to participate in this central action.

“The actions and events to be organised within the scope of the campaign will be expanded not only in Europe but also in the four parts of Kurdistan and all around the world. Different segments of society will participate in this process with signature campaigns, long marches, rallies and marches with wide participation,” Zümrüt said.

The 'Right to Hope' for Öcalan

Zümrüt said that the actions and activities to be held on the anniversary of the International Conspiracy are directly linked to the ongoing process and talks in Turkey, adding: “The Turkish state could no longer hide the truth about isolation and the process has evolved to a different point. In 49 months, Mr. Abdullah Öcalan has been allowed to meet only once with his nephew and twice with two deputies from the DEM Party. An amendment regarding the 'Right to Hope' for Öcalan will also be brought up."

‘Freedom and solution or peace are directly linked to each other’

Referring to the 7-point framework expressed by Öcalan during his meeting with the DEM Party delegation on 28 December 2024, Zümrüt said, “All this shows that freedom and solution or peace are directly linked to each other. With the events to be organized with the participation of international lawyers, academics and parliamentarians, the global campaign aims to bring the Turkish state’s policy of isolation to the attention of the international community.”

‘The campaign will grow and expand in 2025’

Highlighting the strategic goals of the campaign, Sinan Önal stated that the campaign will grow and expand in 2025, when mass and social movement will become widespread and continuous.

“Of course, the women and people of Kurdistan, young and old alike, have been in constant action together with their friends, both in the country and all over the world. We aim to turn this mobilization into much more organized and large-scale actions,” he noted.

‘New legal proceedings before international courts’

Sinan Önal remarked that one of the campaign's primary objectives is to initiate new legal proceedings before international courts against Turkey's war crimes and isolation policy. Following internal meetings by all the components of the campaign, a joint planning will be made at a big conference in April. In addition, diplomatic initiatives will be made before international institutions such as the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the United Nations.

‘Let us increase the struggle wherever we are’

Finally, the spokespersons of the campaign made the following appeal to the Kurdish people and their friends: “It is clear from the political developments that 2025 corresponds to a very important year for the region and the world. In order for the campaign to succeed, let us increase the struggle wherever we are, organize more and raise our voices louder.”