The "Freedom for Abdullah Ocalan, solution to the Kurdish issue" campaign, launched by the Congress of Democratic Societies of Kurdistan (KCDK-E), European democratic institutions, internationalist groups and world-renowned names on October 10, 2023, continues. In the first phase of the campaign activities such as long marches, sending postcards to Ocalan and reading books were organized, and a final rally was held with the participation of hundreds of thousands of people.

 

The second phase of the campaign, which started on March 1, continues with mass protests and events. Following International Women's Day on March 8 and Newroz on March 21, both demands were expressed on Ocalan's birthday, April 4.

 

According to the information obtained, a 5-day sit-in protest will be started with 3 thousand people in front of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the European Council (EC) in Strasbourg, France, between 15-19 April.

 

KCDK-E Co-chair Zübeyde Zümrüt spoke about for the coming period.

 

'THE PROTESTS WILL CONTINUE UNINTERRUPTED'

 

Zümrüt say, protests and activities aimed at breaking the worsening isolation will continue uninterrupted and they will continue to carry out different protests and activities until they get results. Zümrüt said: "We did not set a time frame when starting the move. Our protests and activities will continue until Abdullah Ocalan is free and the isolation policies end."

 

Pointing to the second phase of the campaign, Zümrüt said: "Women demonstrated their will on March 8 with the slogan of Abdullah Ocalan's freedom and the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue. Women said in the fields, 'Abdullah Ocalan's freedom is our freedom.' On Newroz, the people said, Breaking the worsening isolation flowed to the areas based on Leader Apo's physical freedom."

 

'WE CAN DESTROY THE IMRALI WALLS'

 

Stating that the campaign was embraced by the public, Zümrüt said: "It is no longer acceptable for the Kurds to keep Abdullah Ocalan in isolation for 25 years. Reprotests against the isolation increased on March 8 and Newroz, but this needs to increase further. We have a goal of destroy the Imralı walls. Our next struggle is to ensure the physical freedom of Abdullah Ocalan. If we ensure our own strength and organization in the second phase of the campaign, we can break down the walls of the Imrali isolation."

 

PROTEST IN FRONT OF THE CPT

 

Stating that within the scope of the campaign, they will start a sit-in in front of the CPT with 3 thousand people between 15-19 April, Zümrüt said: "Here we will remind the Council of Europe of its responsibility. The protest we will take here is important. We will hold a 5-day sit-in in front of the CPT with 3 thousand people. While doing this, there will be some meetings with the Council of Europe. Some files we have prepared will be given. While presenting these files, we will demand that the Council of Europe see the unlawfulness taking place on Imralı Island and do what is necessary. We especially want the unlawfulness committed by Turkey to end as soon as possible. We want the CPT not to turn a blind eye to the torture system taking place in Imrali and to immediately go to Imralı and share the reports it has obtained with the public. In this sense, the 5-day protest we will hold is very important in terms of the message we will give."

 

MA / Esra Solin Dal