The ‘Great Freedom March’ officially started in Van (Wan), Turkey, on Thursday, with a press statement highlighting its core objective to end the solitary confinement of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan and to advocate for a political solution to the Kurdish question.
The march, supported by various political parties and democratic organisations, is part of a broader international initiative titled “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, a Political Solution to the Kurdish Question”, and is set to continue until 15 February, commemorating 25 years since Öcalan’s capture.
Prominent attendees at the launch included Keskin Bayındır and Tuncer Bakırhan, co-chairs of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), respectively, alongside representatives from numerous civil society groups. Participants were seen wearing aprons emblazoned with “Freedom March/Meşa Azadiyê ye”, symbolising their commitment to the cause.
In his speech, Bakırhan articulated the profound implications of the unresolved Kurdish issue on Turkey’s societal and economic landscape. “As long as the Kurdish issue remains unresolved, we are experiencing chaos… The reason for the continuation of this rotten system is the unsolved Kurdish issue,” Bakırhan stated, emphasising the historical depth of the problem and its entanglement with the republic’s identity.
Bakırhan further highlighted the detrimental impact of the government’s current approach on Turkey’s domestic and international reputation, urging a shift towards dialogue and negotiation. “The Kurdish issue now needs to be seriously discussed and entered into dialogue and negotiation,” he urged, pinpointing Abdullah Öcalan’s pivotal role in any potential resolution process.
Concluding his address, Bakırhan extended an invitation to the authorities for constructive engagement, emphasising the opportunity presented by the march for a peaceful and democratic resolution.
Zeki Irmez, an MP from the DEM Party, emphasised the broader implications of Öcalan’s isolation, not only for the Kurdish community’s pursuit of democracy, freedom and justice but also for the region’s collective future. He argued that the solitary confinement in İmralı Island Prison has become a tool for the current Turkish regime, contributing to various national issues and symbolising the onset of a lawlessness regime across Turkey.
Irmez’s statements conveyed the sentiment that resolving the isolation at İmralı could unlock the potential for a democratic future in Turkey. The marchers believe that the ‘Great Freedom March’ is a critical step towards ending the isolation at İmralı, thereby fostering peace and advocating for a democratic framework within the country and the region at large.
