A delegation from the European Forum for Freedom and Peace (EFFP) has officially submitted a request in Istanbul to visit Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan on the Turkish prison island of Imrali. With this step, the intellectuals, lawyers, parliamentarians, and activists who traveled from various European countries want to send a signal for a political solution to the Kurdish question and for Öcalan's release.

The initiative is part of the newly launched campaign ‘I want to visit Abdullah Öcalan', which opposes Öcalan's continued isolation and pushes for dialogue and peace processes. A total of 39 people, including journalists, academics, trade unionists, and human rights activists, traveled to Istanbul for talks and political contacts. Their first stop was the Asrın Law Office, which has represented Abdullah Öcalan since his abduction to Turkey in 1999 in violation of international law.

During their meeting earlier today, the delegation handed over a joint petition with the aim of obtaining visiting rights to Imralı. The Asrın Law Office described the application as an important step in a tense political situation.

The delegation then visited the Istanbul Provincial Organization of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party).

Speaking here, DEM Party Provincial Co-Chair Arife Çınar emphasized that Öcalan’s February 27 ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society’ was addressed not only to the Kurdish people but to all democracies around the world.

“This is a call to eliminate oppression, a call that will enable identities and women to assert their existence and become subjects. From this perspective, your participation at the international level and standing by our side is of great value,” Çınar said.

Arife Çınar drew attention to the universality of women's struggle and stated that the slogan “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (Woman, Life, Freedom) has become a symbol of women's solidarity.

Provincial Co-Chair Çınar Altan, on the other hand, expressed that he saw the delegation as “the subject and builder of this historic moment” and thanked them for their solidarity.

The delegation will meet with DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan later in the afternoon.