Ludo De Brabander, spokesman for Vrede, a leading peace organisation in Belgium, has expressed his strong support for the campaign for the release of Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
In an interview with Erem Kansoy of Medya Haber TV, De Brabander stressed the importance of Öcalan’s democratic confederalism as a key approach to achieving peace in the region.
Öcalan, who has been held in Turkey’s İmralı Island prison since 1999, is seen by the Kurdish community as the key to resolving the Kurdish conflict in Turkey. De Brabander’s remarks underscore the belief that peace in the Middle East, particularly on the Kurdish issue, can only be achieved through political dialogue and respect for minority rights within a decentralised framework of governance.
De Brabander explained the concept of democratic confederalism proposed by Öcalan, which advocates a decentralised system that respects the rights of all minorities and thus addresses a significant part of the conflicts in the Middle East. He argued that the release of Öcalan and the removal of the PKK from terrorist lists would mark the beginning of a political process necessary for peace and stability in the region.
De Brabander also criticised Turkey’s treatment of Öcalan, in particular the use of solitary confinement, as a violation of international legal standards. He called for an end to Öcalan’s inhumane conditions and for the PKK to be recognised as a legitimate party to the conflict, which he said would pave the way for a peaceful solution.
The call for Öcalan’s release, according to De Brabander, is not just about freeing an individual, but about recognising his potential role in promoting dialogue, economic prosperity and lasting peace in Turkey and the wider Middle East. Vrede’s support for this campaign reflects a wider international concern about the ongoing conflict and the treatment of political prisoners, and underlines the need for a shift towards dialogue-based solutions rather than military or isolationist approaches.