A significant rally organised by the Freedom for Öcalan Worldwide Campaign took place on Monday in Strasbourg, focusing on the treatment of Abdullah Öcalan, leader of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) who has been imprisoned in Turkey’s facility for 25 years. This rally was part of a broader campaign titled “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan – A Political Solution to the Kurdish Question,” which began globally in October 2023.
The rally criticised the Council of Europe (CoE) and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) for their failure to address the conditions of Abdullah Öcalan’s detention, especially noting the lack of action during the 25th anniversary of Öcalan’s abduction. The campaign asserts that these European bodies have a legal responsibility to ensure Turkey adheres to international standards, which they have neglected.
The event saw participation from Kurds and supporters from various European countries, alongside political figures like Ömer Öcalan, French and Irish parliamentarians, and a lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Fikret Çelik, Co-Chair of the Strasbourg People’s Assembly, highlighted the closure of legal avenues for Kurds and stressed the fruitful results of ongoing struggles against what he termed the fascist bloc in Turkey. Zübeyde Zümrüt, KCDK-E Co-Chair, emphasised the need for the struggle to intensify to break down the walls of and end Öcalan’s isolation. Engin Sever, another KCDK-E Co-Chair, condemned the cooperation of the CPT and European institutions with oppressive regimes, stressing the Kurdish response to these injustices.
French politician of La France Insoumise (NUPES), Emmanuel Fernandes, strongly condemned the ongoing detention of Abdullah Öcalan, describing it as “absolutely reprehensible” and “inhumane.” He highlighted Öcalan’s 25-year internment in Imrali prison, noting the past three years without any news of him, which he stated clearly violates international conventions that Turkey, as a member of the CoE, has agreed to uphold.
Fernandes praised the resilience and courage of the Kurdish people and their movements, expressing solidarity and support from his party, La France Insoumise. He announced plans to speak at the European Parliament, advocating for justice and the release of political prisoners, and criticised the French government for its recent deportations of the Kurdish activists to Turkey, asserting that these do not represent the values of his party or the broader French left.
The event closed with powerful calls for action against the silence of international bodies and for the intensification of efforts to secure Öcalan’s release, reflecting the strong resolve among the Kurds and their allies. The speeches underscored the influence of Öcalan’s ideas globally and the unwavering determination to fight for his freedom.
