Abdullah Öcalan was invited as the main speaker to this year's May Day rally in Zurich, Switzerland.

The invitation was made by the May Day Organizing Committee, a group of more than 60 organizations, including major political parties, trade unions and civil society organizations in Switzerland.

In a letter to Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is held in isolation in İmralı Prison, the committee drew attention to the interest in his alternative collective models.

The letter stated: “Your efforts and commitment to peace and democracy have long been recognized in connection with the conflictual developments in the Middle East, Turkey and Kurdistan. At the same time, your ideas are being read, discussed and embraced as a practical perspective for building a new democratic society, especially in the Middle East, but also in Europe and many other parts of the world.

Your principle of solidarity with all peoples seeking alternative models of society around the world, including socialists, democrats, ecologists, feminists, anarchists, women, youth, internationalists and various communities, is widely recognized.

The Zurich May Day Committee has always supported the Kurdish people's struggle for freedom, democracy and self-determination and we follow the new developments with great sympathy.”

In the letter, the Organizing Committee conveyed its invitation to Öcalan as follows: “For many Kurds, you are considered the most important political representative. For all these reasons, we hope to see you among us on May 1st. Your presence will be a great source of enrichment and inspiration for political struggles in Switzerland.”

The committee had extended a similar invitation to Öcalan in 2013 during the “resolution process” between Turkey and the PKK. That year, the Kurdish leader was invited as the main speaker at the May Day rally in Zurich.