The Italian city of Bologna has decided to give Abdullah Öcalan the title of honorary citizen.

The official decision is expected to be approved by a vote in the City Council on Monday. 

Ali Akbar Sultan, the representative of the Kurdistan Information Bureau in Italy (UIKI), thanked the municipality of Bologna and the majority of the council.

Ali Akbar Sultan expressed his gratitude to Deputy Mayor Emily Clancy and Councillor Detjon Begaj, who have always supported the Kurdish people's struggle for freedom and the international campaign for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan. 

 Sultan emphasized that the awarding of the title to Öcalan is extremely meaningful and said, “Mr. Öcalan has been waging a great struggle for freedom and peace for 26 years. This honorary citizenship title is clear support for his struggle.” 

Stating that Öcalan’s ideas have come to life in Rojava and the Middle East, Sultan said that the Kurdish leader’s solution proposals offer a way out to the gangrenous problems that have been going on in the Middle East for a hundred years.

“Now is the time for freedom for Öcalan and a democratic solution to the Kurdistan issue,” Ali Akbar Sultan, the representative of the Kurdistan Information Bureau in Italy said, calling on everyone to support the democratic political struggle initiated by Abdullah Öcalan.