The İmralı Peace Delegation, comprising prominent figures from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party—Ahmed Türk, Pervin Buldan, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Tülay Hatimoğulları, Tuncer Bakırhan, Cengiz Çiçek and Faik Özgür Erol—is set to deliver a highly anticipated statement in Istanbul today at 15:00 CET (17:00 local time) following their meeting with Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.
Ahead of this momentous announcement, the European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress (KCDK-E) has issued a statement, emphasising the significance of this moment. The KCDK-E described it as a critical step toward freedom, underscoring that Öcalan’s message could mark a pivotal turning point in the liberation struggle. The statement highlighted the importance of this moment for women, oppressed communities, and all people striving for justice.
A passage from the statement reads:
“We stand at a defining juncture in our collective struggle for freedom. Despite the severe constraints of isolation, Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) is launching a historic process—one that champions peace over war and democracy over dictatorship. This is a revolutionary moment for the future of the peoples of Kurdistan, Turkey, and the broader Middle East. His long-awaited message holds the potential to dismantle the barriers to freedom and peace, which have long been sustained by war, bloodshed, and exploitation.”
The KCDK-E further asserted that today’s announcement marks the beginning of a renewed push for Öcalan’s physical freedom. They recognise it as the culmination of a 26-year struggle against the system of enforced isolation and repression.
Acknowledging the gravity of this moment, the KCDK-E calls on the Kurdish diaspora across Europe, Australia, and Canada to gather in community centres at 15:00 CET to witness this historic declaration with collective fervour. The statement also urges associations and community organisations to organise public screenings in city squares, ensuring a mass mobilisation in response to this landmark event.
