Days before the first anniversary of the “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, a political solution to the Kurdish issue” campaign, which was launched on October 10, 2023 in Strasbourg, France, demanding the physical freedom of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, the organizers of the campaign called for action. The organizers of the campaign called on everyone to take action within the framework of the campaign between October 1-10 on the first anniversary of the campaign. 

 

In the statement calling for action, the organizers mentioned the actions and activities carried out in the last year and reminded that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) was forced to meet with the organizers of the campaign and respond to their letters as a result of the pressure. “Our efforts reached such a level that the CPT itself took the unprecedented step of responding to our letters and meeting with us” the statement said. 

 

LETTER FROM NOBEL LAUREATES

 

The statement noted that in the past year a wide range of international networks of lawyers, trade unions, politicians, activists, artists, musicians, women's organizations, youth groups and geographical regions have been established, and numerous press conferences, rallies, protests, sit-ins, stand-ins and seminars have been organized.

 

The statement reminded that in the first year of the initiative, letters were sent to the CPT President signed by many intellectuals and thinkers, including 69 Nobel Laureates, and that many articles on the Kurdish issue and prisoners in Turkey were published in the international press.

 

CALL FOR ACTION BETWEEN OCTOBER 1-10

 

Tha statemenet said: “But despite all our efforts, unfortunately we have not yet been able to end the isolation of Kurdistan's leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been illegally held by the Turkish state for 3 and a half years. Therefore, as we approach the first anniversary of October 1-10, 2024, we would like to send a clear call to all of us to do more, as we believe that we are close to finally breaking the international conspiracy that denies the voice of Mr. Öcalan and his message of reconciliation for the Middle East.” 

 

'ÖCALAN WILL NOT ABANDON US AND WE WILL NOT ABANDON HIM'

 

The statement called on everyone to step up their efforts, conduct more diplomacy, organize more reading days of Öcalan's works, and organize more actions to break the isolation and stated: “This is an intellectual battle of ideas and we believe we can all succeed if we refuse to give up. Although Abdullah Öcalan has been held on a deserted island for a quarter of a century, he has not abandoned the Kurdish people and humanity, and we will not abandon him.”