Bologna, the northern Italian city known for its progressive politics, granted honorary citizenship to jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan on 27 March, with the symbolic certificate officially handed over on Monday, 14 April, during a public ceremony at the city’s historic Accursio Palace.
The document was presented to Öcalan’s nephew, MP Ömer Öcalan — a member of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party — in front of city officials, Kurdish representatives and civil society groups. Organisers said the move aimed to reaffirm support for the Kurdish struggle and to highlight Öcalan’s political philosophy, which advocates democratic confederalism, gender liberation and ecological justice.
“We are honoured to receive this on behalf of our president, Abdullah Öcalan,” Ömer Öcalan said during the ceremony. “This recognition is not only for him but for the Kurdish people and our pursuit of peace and democratic society in Turkey and the broader Middle East.”
Öcalan, a founding member of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has been imprisoned on the Turkish island of İmralı since 1999 and held in strict isolation. While controversial, he is revered by many Kurds as a political visionary. On 27 February this year, Öcalan reportedly issued a rare message calling for renewed dialogue and a peaceful resolution to Turkey’s decades-long conflict with its Kurdish population.
Deputy Mayor Emily Clancy described the act as “more than symbolic”, noting that Öcalan’s proposals for a decentralised, democratic society “offer solutions to global crises of inequality, conflict, and ecological collapse”. She said Bologna’s decision reaffirmed the city’s historic role in championing human rights.
“Supporting Öcalan’s vision means standing against oppression and promoting justice and freedom for all peoples,” she said, reading aloud passages from his writings, particularly those related to women’s emancipation and grassroots democracy.
This marks the 20th Italian municipality to award Öcalan honorary citizenship, a movement that began in 2004 when the city of Cosenza first recognised him for his calls for peace and human rights. Other cities that followed suit include Palermo, Naples, Reggio Emilia, and Martano.
City Council President Maria Caterina Manca said Bologna’s move also signalled support for Öcalan’s February statement. “This honorary citizenship is a response to his call — not just a gesture, but a declaration of our shared commitment to peace,” she said.
Human rights representative Rita Monticelli highlighted Öcalan’s prolonged isolation, describing it as a violation of international standards and a barrier to peace. Independent councillor Gian Marco De Biase added: “The message must be clear: Öcalan is not alone, and the Kurdish people are not alone.”
Ömer Öcalan, who recently visited his uncle in prison, shared that he is in good health and “working hard” despite his isolation. “We hope this recognition from Bologna can contribute to opening a new chapter of peace and mutual understanding,” he said.
