The new phase of the "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, Solution to the Kurdish Question" initiative, which was launched internationally on 10 October 2023, begins on Monday 15 April. A sit-in will take place in front of the Council of Europe and its European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) in Strasbourg. ANF talked with KCDK-E (The Congress of Democratic Societies of Kurdistan in Europe) co-chair Engin Sever about the purpose of the action, its scope, and the message planned to be sent through the action.

To what extent is KCDK-E involved in the organization of this action? Can you give information about the preparations and participants?

All planning, technical aspects and preparations are being finalized. Activists from many cities of Europe will participate in this action. Of course, it won't be just the Kurds. Our friends who started the campaign on 10 October 2023, politicians, writers, trade unionists, students, lawyers, will all be there. Additionally, President Öcalan's lawyers will also take their place there. The isolation system that has been maintained for 25 years, the lack of news from Leader Apo for three years, and the prevention of family and lawyer visits will be mentioned there.

Will all federations affiliated with KCDK-E participate?

All our institution representatives and politicians will attend the action and give their messages there. As it is known, Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] has been showing great resistance against the isolation system that has been maintained uninterruptedly for 25 years. This resistance has now spread all over the world and turned into a global movement of action and activity. Despite this, there is reaction to the fact that European states continue their own systems, relations of interest and cooperation uninterruptedly.

The CPT announced that it did not go to Imrali during its last visit to Turkey and did not publish the report of his previous visit. What kind of problem does this pose?

Very clear messages will be given against this. Actually, we need to ask this: what is CPT hiding from the Kurds? What's going on in Imralı? What is the situation of Leader Apo? We insist on these questions being answered. Of course, we will turn every area we are in into action. There will be a demonstration in front of the CPT, but on the same day, actions and events will be held in many places, such as Canada, Australia, Japan, Cyprus and Greece.

The files prepared by the Initiative will be given to the CPT, the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights and other civil institutions and organizations. On the same basis as KCDK-E, we will have meetings with politicians, parties and country representatives in the European Council. Leader Öcalan's lawyers will also have meetings.

Finally, do you have a call to action?

We welcome all our people to Strasbourg on the basis of supporting Leader Apo. We must demand Leader Apo's freedom and expose the silence of the CPT and the Council of Europe, as well as the attitudes of the states and the criminalization policies developed against the Kurdish people in Europe. Leader Apo believes that we will break the Imrali isolation system by giving the message that it is the will of millions. It is on this basis that we invite everyone.