Following the brief, suddenly interrupted telephone conversation between Mehmet Öcalan and his brother Abdullah Öcalan, who has been isolated on the prison island of Imrali for 22 years, the European umbrella organization KCDK-E and the Kurdish Women's Movement in Europe (TJK-E) are calling for the continuation and expansion of protests for the Kurdish leader’s isolation to be lifted. The telephone conversation was the first sign of life from Öcalan in almost a year.

The statement said: "The telephone conversation with Rêber Apo [Leader Öcalan] was interrupted for an unknown reason. In the short conversation, Rêber Apo stated that he did not accept that no lawyer would be allowed to visit him and described the situation as unlawful. Suddenly he was interrupted and the call was terminated. After the conversation, his brother Mehmet Öcalan stated that this questionable situation further increased his concerns.

The telephone conversation with Hamili Yıldırım, who is also isolated on Imrali, was also brief. The other two prisoners, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysi Aktaş, boycotted the phone call in protest of the isolation.

"Rêber Apo is the future of millions"

The Kurdish people have united around Rêber Apo, and with every action and every statement, they keep expressing that he represents the future, the longing and the freedom for millions of people. What is done to him is done to the entire Kurdish people. Isolating Rêber Apo means isolating the will of millions of people.

The fascist Turkish state has put its hand on the nerve of the Kurdish people and wants us to get used to this situation. We have said it before, and we repeat it: Rêber Apo is our red line. Without a visit of the legal team and the family members to Abdullah Öcalan and without his freedom, it is not possible. The Kurdish people will not be stalled any longer. We will continue to rise up everywhere and stand up for Rêber Apo.

Appeal to the international community

For 22 years we have condemned this system of isolation. It contradicts the principles of international law. We call on all responsible international institutions to carry out their duties without delay. We demand an immediate visit to Rêber Apo without any precondition. Visits by lawyers and family must be allowed immediately. The fascist isolation torture system must be ended. All attempts to isolate the freedom struggle of the Kurdish people and the will of the Kurdish people, which have found their expression in the person of Rêber Apo, will remain unsuccessful.

As KCDK-E and TJK-E, we call upon our people to take to the streets wherever they are without wasting time and to stand up together with our friends until we receive news of Rêber Apo."