The Syrian Initiative for the Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and the Abdullah Öcalan Academy of Social Sciences organised a workshop on ‘The isolation of Abdullah Öcalan and the prevention of his democratic and social ideas’ at Rojava University in Qamishlo.

In the workshop organised with the participation of intellectuals, academics and teachers, many topics will be discussed, such as the life of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, activities as part of the global campaign ‘Freedom for Leader Abdullah Öcalan and a Political Solution to the Kurdish Question’, the attacks of hegemonic powers against Abdullah Öcalan and his Democratic Confederalism paradigm.

Öcalan came out at a time when the Kurdish people needed him

The workshop started with the first session on the life of Abdullah Öcalan. Speaking here, Ferzende Munzur, spokesperson of the Syrian Initiative for the Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, spoke about the period of Abdullah Öcalan's emergence and said: ‘Many other people emerged before him. Of course, their emergence was also out of necessity. The leaders, who preserved their place in the hearts of the people and in history, fought for a better future. Leader Abdullah Öcalan came out at a time when the Kurdish people needed him. When Kurdistan was heading towards a burial in darkness, Leader Öcalan was born as a light against this darkness.”

Munzur also drew attention to the city of Urfa, the birthplace of Abdullah Öcalan, and said, “Urfa is the city of prophets and has a rich culture. In this land where the Neolithic revolution took place, many components live in the village of Amara and this situation has influenced the character of Leader Öcalan.”

'The Kurdish issue is international, and its solution must also be global'

Munzur made the following evaluation: “The first milestone is Leader Öcalan, the second milestone is the creation of a modern organisation of the peoples of Kurdistan and then the Middle East, and the third milestone is democratic modernity. From 1950 to 1960, Leader Öcalan came out of the narrow understanding of the family. From 1960 to 1980, he left the liberal system and strengthened the search for an alternative solution. When he started the Kurdish cause, he realised that this cause was not independent; the Kurdish issue is international, and its solution must also be global. At a time when the world needed an alternative system, Leader Abdullah Öcalan presented this new system.”

Nûha Omer, a member of the Initiative, spoke about the activities as part of the international campaign ‘Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, a Political Solution to the Kurdish Question’ launched globally in October 2023.

The campaign spread to many countries

Nûha Omer noted that many campaigns have been carried out since Abdullah Öcalan was captured, but the freedom campaign launched on 9 October 2023 was different and spread to many countries.

Nûha Omer stated: “Many activities have been organised with the participation of thousands of people. From philosophers, academics, parliamentarians, lawyers and Nobel laureates, people from many fields have participated in the campaign, which has spread to 6 continents and 31 countries, involving at least 100 centres around the world.

There has been mobilisations around the world, the works of Leader Abdullah Öcalan were read, marches were staged. Thousands of signatures were collected and concerts were organised. Hundreds of famous names and Nobel laureates sent letters calling for the physical freedom of Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Arab initiatives also joined the campaign. In the first stage, prisoners in 107 prisons in North Kurdistan and Turkey went on hunger strike and the strike lasted 210 days.”

Öcalan's paradigm discussed as material at universities

Regarding the participation of northern and eastern Syria in the campaign, Nûha Omer remarked that the mobilisations in the region are still ongoing and said the following about the activities in this scope:

“The people of Northern and Eastern Syria, intellectuals, youth and women's organisations as well as well-known personalities joined the campaign on 14 October 2023. As part of the mobilisation, tents were set up, marches, seminars, reading groups of Leader Abdullah Öcalan were organised. In addition, exhibitions were opened for Leader Abdullah Öcalan's books. Legal and health conferences were held in the cities of Raqqa and Hesekê as part of the campaign. On 9 February 2024, at least 3 million signatures were collected in the scope of a campaign launched in the region. The signatures were sent to the European Union Council on 4 April 2024. 13 letters were sent to international legal and health organisations and 8 letters were sent to world countries. Visits were paid to the political parties in the region. Letters were sent to 22 Arab countries. One thousand 30 signatures were collected from lawyers in Northern and Eastern Syria and Syria.

At universities, the paradigm of the leader is discussed as material. Participation in these activities is very important. Our people should participate in this campaign more actively and strongly.”

The last two sessions were held closed to the press.