Hundreds of thousands gathered in Cologne, Germany, on Saturday, for the “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, Democratic Solution to the Kurdish Issue” campaign. The rally, supported by Kurds and allies, demanded freedom for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader and a democratic resolution to the Kurdish issue.
Urfa (Riha) MP Ömer Öcalan from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party spoke about his recent meeting with Abdullah Öcalan on 23 October. During the meeting, Öcalan sent greetings and expressed readiness for a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue, emphasising his capacity to eliminate conflict if conditions allowed. Ömer Öcalan called for public support for Öcalan, stating:
“Abdullah Öcalan remains a symbol of democracy and peace. His historical efforts, such as the Oslo and İmralı processes, highlight his commitment to resolving the issue through dialogue. Despite setbacks and immense suffering inflicted on our people by the Turkish state, Öcalan maintains his resolve for an honourable solution.”
The rally highlighted Öcalan’s ongoing isolation at İmralı Island, where he has been held under harsh conditions since 1999. Heike Geisweid, co-chair of Association for Democracy and International Law (Rechtsanwälte für Demokratie und Völkerrecht or MAF-DAD), criticised the legal violations in Öcalan’s detention, including restricted access to his lawyers since 2011, calling it “white torture” and an attack on human dignity. Geisweid urged the Turkish government to restore Öcalan’s basic rights and described him as a symbol of Kurdish freedom and justice.
Speakers from international organisations drew attention to the global significance of Öcalan’s imprisonment. A representative from the Internationalist Bloc noted the PKK’s unilateral ceasefires and Öcalan’s dedication to dialogue-based solutions despite his treatment in prison. The Tamil Freedom Movement’s Sajanthan Kethiswaran expressed solidarity, highlighting the shared histories of resistance between the Kurdish and Tamil peoples.
Zübeyde Zümrüt, co-chair of the European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress (Kongreya Civakên Demokratîk a Kurdîstanîyên Ewropa or KCDK-E), stressed the importance of Kurdish unity, stating, “We will remain in the streets until Öcalan’s physical freedom is achieved.” Ahmet Karamus, co-chair of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), urged collective efforts to strengthen Öcalan’s role in peacebuilding, declaring it “time for a solution”. Engin Sever, KCDK-E co-chair, and Ayten Kaplan, a Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe (Tevgera Jinên Kurdistan li Ewropa or TJK-E) representative, criticised Europe’s role in suppressing Kurdish identity and reiterated Öcalan’s centrality to resolving the Kurdish issue.
The rally also included a message from the Kurdistan Women’s Communities (Komalên Jinên Kurdistan or KJK) Coordination, urging intensified efforts for freedom and calling for global solidarity. Speakers underscored unity and democratic principles as key to resolving the Kurdish issue. Cultural performances, including a set by Kurdish artist Hûnera Azad, concluded the event, reinforcing calls for justice, peace and democracy across Kurdish regions and beyond.
