Worldwide support for KCK campaign in Berlin

In Berlin, the campaign "Freedom for Öcalan! For an end of fascism and occupation" has been launched in Berlin. International personalities explained in video messages why the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan is important.

The campaign "Freedom for Öcalan! End to fascism and occupation" was launched at a press conference in front of the German Parliament building in Berlin on Tuesday. The action is part of the KCK campaign "End Isolation, Fascism and Occupation - Time for Freedom", which was proclaimed on September 12.

Invited to the press conference were the Kurdish European umbrella organization KCDK-E and the International Initiative Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan / Peace in Kurdistan. In a speech, Yüksel Koç, co-chair of KCDK-E, called for participation in the campaign and for a common struggle of all peoples who are committed to democracy, freedom and equality. Koç said: "We will carry out our campaign using a variety of methods and work together successfully.”

At the press conference a film was shown about the isolation system on the island of Imrali, where Abdullah Ocalan has been held for 21 years. Subsequently, Berlin city Councillor Hakan Taş (DIE LINKE) spoke and criticized the German Federal Government for exporting arms to Turkey and putting out the red carpet for Erdogan. The left-wing politician demanded the release of Abdullah Öcalan and all political prisoners in Turkey.

Zozan Serhat who spoke in the name of the Kurdish women's movement explained that the women's umbrella organization TJK-E supports the campaign and expects solidarity from the people in Germany and worldwide. Further declarations of support were made by Recep Maraşlı (author), Mecit Heso (KNK), Sibel Yiğitalp (former HDP deputy), Tahir Köçer (KON-MED), Adib Daloyi (South Kurdistan Commission of the KCDK-E) Halil Aksoy (Commune Magazine), Enver (Communist Party of Kurdistan) Irfan Keskin (Green Left Party) Mela Dawud (CIK) and Êgid Ural (Strasbourg hunger strike activist).

"For all humanity: Öcalan must be free"

Due to the pandemic, many personalities from all over the world were not able to attend the press conference on site and instead sent video messages expressing their support and explaining why the freedom of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan is important in their view.

International supporters include Ramon Mantovani (Partito della Rifondazione Comunista, former member of the Italian parliament), Arturo Salerni (Italian lawyer for Abdullah Öcalan), Baroness Christine Blower (House of Lords, Co-Chair of the Freedom for Öcalan Campaign), Simon Dubbins (International Director of Unite the Union and Co-Chair of the Freedom for Öcalan Campaign), Anna Maria Palacios (lawyer and feminist, Spain) Ohiana Etxebarieta (Chairperson of the Kurdish Friendship Group in the Basque Parliament), Vilo Sigurdsson (former Mayor of Copenhagen), Pernille Frahm (former member of the Danish Socialist People's Party), Solly Mapaila (Communist Party of South Africa), Mahmoud Partel (Chairman of the Kurdish Human Rights Action Group, South Africa), Benny Gustafsson (Solidarity Initiative Kurdistan, Sweden), Erling Folkvord (former parliamentarian, Norway), Peter Boyle (journalist, Australia), Dr. Alex Wilson (researcher, Canada).

 

Arturo Salerni, Italian lawyer for Abdullah Öcalan

 

Benny Gustafsson, Solidarity Initiative Kurdistan, Sweden

 

Dr. Alex Wilson, researcher, Canada