As the discussions on the solution of the Kurdish issue entered a new phase with the call of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, the demand for Abdullah Öcalan's physical freedom to bring the process to a conclusion has started to be voiced strongly. While the campaign "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, democratic solution to the Kurdish issue", which was launched in 74 centers around the world on October 10, 2023 with this demand, continues, Kerem Canpolat, Co-chair of the Med Federation of Legal and Solidarity Associations of Families of Prisoners and Convicts (MED TUHAD-FED), said that they will continue the campaign with new steps. 

 

Canpolat said that Abdullah Öcalan's call is very valuable and vital if it is evaluated with the developments in the Middle East, emphasizing that the call contains many things, but primarily it is a call for peace, for the silence of weapons, for the end of the war. Canpolat added, "The Middle East is experiencing a period of conflicts and wars almost everywhere. this call is like a light, like the sun in thsi darkness."

 

Pointing to Abdullah Öcalan's message, which was not included in the text but was verbally conveyed by Sırrı Süreyya Önder, a member of the İmralı delegation, Canpolat said, “Undoubtedly, in practice, laying down arms and the PKK's self-dissolution requires democratic politics and the recognition of the legal dimension.” Canpolat stated that this call should be taken into consideration by everyone. Canpolat underlined that a legal basis must be established for the end of the war and said, “The expected call from Mr. Abdullah Öcalan has been made. It has been 12 years since the 2013-2015 process. While the state has not taken a single positive step in this process, it has taken many negative steps. The current call and step of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan is a higher level despite the state's lack of good intentions in this regard. 

 

Canpolat said that the state should make a declaration of will in response to Abdullah Öcalan's call and added: "The parliament should convene as soon as possible and form sub-commissions to create the legal basis for this. There is already a concern in the society that 'the state will not take steps, it will play games'."

 

'PHYSICAL FREEDOM MUST BE ENSURED'

 

Emphasizing that a constitutional amendment is necessary to secure Kurdish law, Canpolat said, “A constitutional amendment may take a long time, but laws need to be changed, prisoners in prison need to be released, and the conditions of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan need to be reshaped according to the spirit of this process. There should be an environment where he can meet with opinion leaders, delegations, journalists and lawyers." 

 

Stating that the PKK has declared a ceasefire in line with the call and that the state must stop its attacks. "Since suc a process has started, the state must make a declaration of will in a poisitive sense since it will be a peace process."

 

Stating that their campaign for "Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, democratic solution to the Kurdish issue" continues, Canpolat said, "Mr. Abdullah Öcalan needs to be physically free, he needs to be in a place where he can reach everyone, where he can reach all his interlocutors. This place is not İmralı Island, since the island itself is a place of isolation, it needs to be removed from the island, and an environment where he can work comfortably and reach out to people needs to be created." 

 

NEW PHASE IN THE CAMPAIGN 

 

Stressing they will strengthen the campaing, Canpolat said, "We are trying to take our campaign to the next level. These efforts will continue. With the same name, our campaign will continue with new steps and new democratic actions. First of all, we will reach out to the families we represent, gain the support of the whole masses to strengthen the hand of Mr Abdullah Öcalan, and force the state to take steps in this way. We will engage in this practice."

 

MA / Müjdat Can