Öcalan Books Day draws attention to the political writings of Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), and propagating them internationally, with individuals from different countries participating in the initiative by reading excerpts from Öcalan’s books.
Peter Boyle, editor of the Green Left Weekly and founder of Rojava Solidarity Australia, contributed to Öcalan Books Day by reading a passage from Abdullah Öcalan’s Prison Writings: The Roots of Civilisation.
Peter Boyle, editor of the Green Left Weekly and founder of Rojava Solidarity Australia, contributed to #OcalanBooksDay by reading a passage from Abdullah Öcalan's 'Prison Writings: The Roots of Civilization'@peter_b1953 pic.twitter.com/Nk7vKjs8Ph
— MedyaNews (@1MedyaNews) December 10, 2023
Dr Vicki Sentas, an academic and lecturer in the Faculty of Law and Justice at the University of News South Wales, presented her ideas for the international campaign and read from Öcalan’s writings on jineology.
Among those supporting the campaign and the readings are Professor Jesus Alemancia of the University of Panama, Ela Gandhi of the Gandhi Development Foundation in South Africa, British trade unionist Mike Whale, Italian politician Ramon Mantovani and professor of sociology William Robinson from California.
Known for his prolific literary output, Öcalan has written more than 40 books. Since his imprisonment in 1999 under strict conditions on İmralı Island Prison in north-western Turkey, he has delved into Middle Eastern and Kurdish history and left an indelible mark on political discourse through his writings.
The global Öcalan Books Day has launched the website ocalanbooks.com, which offers Öcalan’s writings in at least 16 languages, including English, German, Italian, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
Öcalan’s weekly meetings with his lawyers despite his being otherwise held in isolation, were until they were curtailed a source of documented insights, many of which have been edited and published. His literary oeuvre has played a significant role in shaping the course of Kurdish politics over the past two decades.
Öcalan has had no contact with the outside world since March 2021. Öcalan Books Day is a key element in a global campaign to end his total isolation and promote a peaceful solution to the Kurdish conflict in Turkey. Launched internationally on 10 October, the campaign aims to raise awareness of Öcalan’s plight and build support for a diplomatic and humane approach to the Kurdish question.
