by Agit Karatas
On Saturday 16 November, tens of thousands of Kurds, internationalists, and peace advocates marched in Cologne, Germany, under the slogan: Freedom for Öcalan, A Political Solution to the Kurdish Question. The streets of London echoed this call just a week earlier, as thousands rallied for the release of Abdullah Öcalan – a demand gaining momentum across Europe and beyond. These demonstrations follow international calls, including statements from British and Scottish trade unions affiliated with the Freedom for Öcalan campaign, demanding Öcalan’s immediate release as a pathway to halting conflict and violence.
Abdullah Öcalan, imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), is a central figure in the Kurdish struggle for self-determination and peace. His case resonates internationally, drawing parallels to Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment during South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement. From his foundational perspective of ‘Kurdistan as a colony’ articulated in the Newroz (Kurdish New Year) celebrations of 1973, to leading the PKK’s armed struggle against the Turkish state since 1984, Öcalan’s journey encapsulates decades of resistance and advocacy for Kurdish rights.
In 40 years of conflict with both high- and low-intensity phases, attempts at peace through dialogue between Turkish authorities and the PKK have repeatedly failed. Öcalan’s 1999 abduction in Kenya – part of an international intelligence operation – and subsequent imprisonment in Turkey galvanised Kurdish demands for peace and liberation. Over two decades, these demands have coalesced around a central slogan: Freedom for Öcalan.
Öcalan is often referred to as the ‘Mandela of the Middle East‘ due to parallels with the iconic ANC leader, who endured 27 years of imprisonment during South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle. Öcalan, held in solitary confinement on Imrali Prison Island for over 26 years, has spent the last four years in complete isolation (legally referred to as incommunicado). His case is being monitored by European institutions, including the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the Council of Europe. In discussions held from 17 to 19 September, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers ruled that Turkish authorities must implement a review mechanism for Öcalan under the legal principle of the ‘right to hope,’ applicable after serving 25 years of a sentence.
As the Kurdish movement renewed demands for immediate action in light of these rulings, an unexpected statement from Turkish nationalist leader Devlet Bahçeli sent shockwaves through the country. On 22 October, Bahçeli invited Öcalan to issue a public message from the Turkish Parliament, urging the laying down of arms and the dissolution of the PKK. Bahçeli referred to lifting Öcalan’s isolation as a preliminary step toward such an appearance.
The following day, after four years of restrictions on family and legal visits, Öcalan’s nephew, Ömer Öcalan, was allowed to visit Imrali Prison Island. However, hopes for renewed dialogue were met with scepticism as the Turkish government simultaneously cracked down on Kurdish municipalities in Halfeti, Batman, and Mardin, replacing elected mayors with appointed trustees under its ‘Fight Against Terrorism‘ legislation. Such actions have frequently targeted Kurdish officials under accusations of ‘terrorism’, often contested by rights advocates.
In a political landscape marked by contradictions, distrust, and repression, what lies ahead for Öcalan and the Kurds?
As a stateless nation of 50 million people, the Kurds are no strangers to broken promises, often remarking that their ‘only friends are the mountains.’ Yet, under Öcalan’s ideological leadership, Kurdish communities – especially in Europe – have organised across social, educational, cultural, youth, diplomatic and women’s activities to champion Kurdish rights in public and political spheres.
Last weekend’s mass rally in Cologne, drawing tens of thousands from across Europe, reflected this international solidarity. Alongside Kurdish communities, internationalist groups from leftist, socialist, and feminist traditions joined the march. Their bloc carried a striking banner in German: ‘Freiheit für Abdullah Öcalan, die revolutionäre perspektive verteidigen’ (‘Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan is a defence of the revolutionary perspective’). This slogan underscores how the campaign for Öcalan’s freedom has evolved beyond a Kurdish issue, becoming an international outcry for peace and justice.
The growing international demand for Öcalan’s freedom transcends Kurdish grievances, symbolising a broader call for peace and justice. Öcalan’s release represents a pivotal step toward reconciliation and a Middle East rooted in solidarity and coexistence. As voices from Cologne to London rise in unison, the world must acknowledge that lasting peace begins where oppression ends.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
