Events continue to be organised for Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan on the occasion of the ‘Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, a Political Solution to the Kurdish Question’ campaign, which has entered its second year. A panel discussion was held at the Ticino Democratic Kurdish Community Centre in Bellinzona, the only Italian-speaking canton of Switzerland.

The panel discussion was moderated by Collettivo Scintilla activist Selin Devrim and the speakers were Dr. Beppe Savary-Borioli, President of the Swiss Committee for the Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, Roberto Mapelli, President of the Punto Rosso Cultural Association in Italy, and Ahmet Yaman on behalf of the Ticino Democratic Kurdish Community Centre.

Dr Beppe Savary-Borioli, President of the Swiss Committee for the Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, pointed out that Abdullah Öcalan is a very important leader, not only for the Kurdish people but for all peoples. Stating that the global campaign for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan is important and that they need to work harder to get results, Dr Savary said: “A campaign for the freedom of Öcalan was launched a year ago. More efforts are needed for this campaign to be successful. You see the current war in the Middle East geography. The way out of all these conflicts is the Democratic Nation paradigm put forward by Abdullah Öcalan. With this paradigm, peoples can live together in peace without killing each other. Kurds have a truly revolutionary movement in the Middle East. Öcalan had predicted these events years ago. The solution is also in Öcalan's paradigm. Öcalan is an important actor not only for Kurds but for all peoples and he should be free as soon as possible. We will fight harder to ensure his freedom.”

Roberto Mapelli, President of the Punto Rosso Cultural Association in Italy, pointed out that the thoughts of Abdullah Öcalan are important for the Middle East and Europe and said, “Öcalan is teaching us and European societies as well.”

Describing Abdullah Öcalan as a leader who foresees the future very well, Mapelli continued, “Öcalan's ideas on women's freedom are really important. The struggle against ISIS in Rojava should be told to everyone.”

Citing the example of Kurdish women struggling in Rojava, Mapelli emphasised the importance of Abdullah Öcalan's thoughts on women's freedom and ecology and said: “Öcalan's thoughts should be spread more widely and the long isolation on him should be ended as soon as possible. It is very important to increase the struggle for this.”

Ahmet Yaman spoke on behalf of the Ticino Kurdish Community Centre and made a broad evaluation of the isolation imposed by the Turkish state against Abdullah Öcalan.

Emphasising the importance of the freedom campaign, Yaman said, “The campaign launched for Leader Öcalan has left one year behind. We had important actions and events. These are important, but did not lead to freedom. In the new period, we need to organise stronger activities and actions in order for this campaign to be successful.”

The panel discussion ended with the slogans ‘Viva Öcalan, Viva Kurdistan’ after the answers given by the speakers to the questions asked by the participants.