After South Africa's largest union launched a joint campaign in support of imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, international support from organizations and individuals has been growing.

The Red Party of Norway and organizations like Red Youth, Changemaker and solidarity with Kurdistan say they are behind the demand to release Öcalan and find a peaceful solution to the conflicts in the Middle East. The organizations have decided to send letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres and urging its members to do the same.

Red Youth: Only Öcalan's release can bring peace

Abdullah Öcalan is a Kurdish politician, author and activist, considered the leader of millions of Kurds.  One of the premises for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question is that he be released, only then can peace negotiations be started, Red youth said in a statement.

Further in the statement, Red Youth said: “By signing the petition and sending letters to the UN, you are helping to make a difference for the Kurds in their fight for basic human rights.  Much of the work being done for Öcalan's freedom can now be compared to the work done for Nelson Mandela in his day.  The hope is that the work will make as big a difference for the Kurds as it once did for South Africa.”

Call for other Norwegian organizations and politicians to participate in the campaign

The organizations said that they support this work and will send the same letter COSATU has drafted to the UN, under their own name, as COSATU has encouraged organizations to do.  “We will further encourage other Norwegian organizations and political parties to do the same.  We also encourage our members to sign the petition, share it with everyone you know and be part of the solidarity campaign for the rights of the Kurds,” they said.

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