Irene Lagulla, dean and sociologist at the University of Arusha in Tanzania, has voiced her support for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, the founding leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). In an interview with Erem Kansoy, Lagulla emphasised the inspiration she has receieved from Öcalan’s ideas and likened his situation to that of Nelson Mandela, highlighting her efforts to educate her students about Öcalan’s philosophies.
Lagulla expressed her belief that the campaign for Öcalan’s freedom is crucial, and she believes that peaceful negotiations are vital for his liberation. “I think he has been in prison for more than 20 years, which is a lifetime for a person,” she stated, adding that Öcalan’s family and people need him as a leader.
The sociologist also discussed Öcalan’s book, Sociology of Freedom, which she finds particularly relatable to the context of Africa and Tanzania. She noted similarities between Öcalan’s ideas and those of Tanzania’s first president, Julius Nyerere, especially regarding equality and freedom for all. “Nyerere believed that for Tanzania to be free, all African countries need to be free,” she noted, “and this is what I see in the writings of Abdullah Öcalan.”
Both Öcalan and Mandela, she said, sought peace and freedom for their people and opposed colonization. She emphasised that Mandela and Öcalan shared a common goal of liberation for their respective peoples.
The sociologist also called for the attention of the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) in facilitating a peaceful process for Öcalan’s freedom. “It’s time now, he should be free. His rights should also be protected,” she urged.
In her interview, Lagulla shared her admiration for Öcalan’s resilience in authoring his works while imprisoned. She uses these ideas as motivation when teaching her students, showing the relevance of Öcalan’s thoughts in the broader context of global freedom and equality movements.