The Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) has called for strong international participation in defending Rojava on 1 November – World Kobane Day, the day of commemoration of the resistance in the city of Kobane against ISIS’ siege. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Kurdish umbrella organisation urged supporters worldwide to stand with the Kurdish struggle for Abdullah Öcalan’s freedom and a political solution to the Kurdish question. The KCK asserted that “a broad participation in this new phase is crucial,” stressing the symbolic and strategic importance of solidarity on these dates.
The KCK acknowledged a recent meeting with Öcalan, also known as Rêber Apo, as a significant breakthrough following his five-year isolation, attributing the progress to a global campaign for Öcalan’s release. “The meeting with Rêber Apo shows that our struggle has yielded results,” they stated. Rêber mmeans ‘teacher’ or ‘guide’, whereas Apo is an affectionate, honorific nickname for Öcalan.
The KCK pointed to the ‘Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, a Political Solution to the Kurdish Question’ campaign as instrumental. While Öcalan’s isolation remains, the KCK believes the meeting proves that “a democratic solution for the Kurdish question can be achieved” through international pressure.
As Turkey escalates its attacks on Northern and Eastern Syria, the KCK warned of “genocidal threats” against Rojava and stressed the historical importance of defending the region. “The Turkish state’s attacks are genocide and a crime against humanity,” the KCK said, calling on the Kurdish people, women, youth, and international allies to “embrace the Rojava Revolution.” The KCK highlighted that the recent aggression underscores the Turkish state’s aim to dismantle Rojava’s achievements, urging allies worldwide to protect Rojava “at a level that goes beyond what was experienced in the past.”
The KCK closed by marking the significance of World Kobane Day as a “historical responsibility” to preserve Rojava’s revolutionary values, framing this phase as a collective, enduring commitment to the Kurdish struggle.
