Call against the isolation of Öcalan: “Open the gates of Imrali”

In statements to mark the anniversary of the international conspiracy against Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, several parties and institutions said that “the gates of Imrali prison must be opened.”

The statements emphasized that Öcalan’s release will also liberate women and peoples and called for increased struggle against the isolation of the Kurdish leader in prison.

TEV-ÇAND: WE WILL MAKE 2022 THE YEAR OF FREEDOM

The Mesopotamia Democratic Culture and Art Movement (TEV-ÇAND) pointed out that the international conspiracy is continuing and the attacks against North and East Syria are attesting to its continuation. Condemning the silence of the international community, institutions and the CPT that advocate for human rights, TEV-ÇAND emphasized that silence means serving the occupying and fascist forces.

“The existence and freedom of the Kurdish people and the peoples of the Middle East are related to the existence and physical freedom of Öcalan. As part of the ‘Dem dema azadiyê’ (Time for freedom) campaign, we will destroy fascism and increase the struggle for the physical freedom of Öcalan in 2022,” the statement said.

KNK: THEY DID NOT ACHIEVE THEIR OBJECTIVES

The KNK (Kurdistan National Congress) pointed to the conspiracy process and said, “The purpose of the conspiracy against Mr. Öcalan was to eliminate the Kurdistan Freedom Movement. The process that developed after the conspiracy revealed that the circles that promoted injustice did not achieve their goals. They wanted to disband, end and eliminate the PKK which led the Kurdish people. The 23-year process showed that they failed to do so. Mr. Öcalan also resisted and turned the Imralı prison into a field of resistance. Furthermore, the Kurdish Freedom Movement and the Kurdish people demonstrated outstanding resistance for 23 years and frustrated the conspiracy.”

The KNK urged all to embrace the campaign launched for Öcalan’s freedom, to expand the struggle and to join the demonstrations against the conspiracy.

SHENGAL AUTONOMOUS ASSEMBLY: MASSACRE PREVENTED THANKS TO ÖCALAN

“Thousands of Yazidis were saved from massacres thanks to Öcalan’s ideas and philosophy. Thousands of martyrs were sacrificed for freedom. As the Yazidi community, we recognize Öcalan as our own existence,” the Shengal Democratic Autonomous Assembly said.

“The attacks of the Turkish state and its partner KDP are a continuation of the conspiracy against Öcalan,” the statement emphasized, adding that “2022 will be the year of Öcalan’s freedom.”

DBP: IMRALI’S GATES MUST BE OPENED

“They wanted to eliminate the freedom struggle through the conspiracy. The AKP government wants to continue the conspiracy through policies of isolation,” the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) said in a statement.

“Turkey cannot resolve its political and economic problems until the Kurdish problem is resolved. The solution is clear. Mr. Öcalan’s efforts for democracy and peace are well known. The gates of Imrali must be opened for these efforts,” the statement said.

TJA: ÖCALAN’S FREEDOM IS WOMEN’S FREEDOM

“The isolation, the ongoing attacks on the living spaces of the Kurdish people, the hostility against Shengal, Maxmur and Rojava revolutions, where peoples have the opportunity to live together on an equal basis, are a continuation of the conspiracy. The isolation is an international intervention developed against the solution to the Kurdish problem. The AKP-MHP fascist forces continue to carry out and deepen this policy on behalf of the conspiratorial forces,” the Free Women’s Movement (TJA) said in a statement.

The TJA emphasized that “fighting the isolation of Imrali is the struggle of the Kurdish people, the peoples of Turkey and the Middle East to create a democratic future. With the physical freedom of Mr. Öcalan, women, the Kurds and the peoples of the Middle East will achieve freedom and democracy. We reiterate our call to the peoples and the international community and to the defenders of rights to lift the inhumane isolation,” the statement added.

HDP: EVERYONE WHO WANTS DEMOCRATIZATION SHOULD REJECT ISOLATION

“February 15 was the day when the freedom, existence, future and history of the Kurdish people were targeted,” the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Central Executive Board (MYK) said.

“As a result of the struggle of the peoples and Öcalan on İmralı, the international conspiracy could not achieve its goal. The isolation is spreading all over Turkey through Imrali.

The increasing economic crisis and impoverishment in recent days are interconnected with the policies of isolation and war.

The aggravated isolation imposed on Mr. Öcalan must be lifted immediately for the solution of the Kurdish problem and the democratization of Turkey.

We are concerned about the health and safety of Öcalan under the conditions of aggravated isolation in a place where the laws are suspended.

We call on all political institutions, human rights organizations and non-governmental organizations that promote the democratization of Turkey to fight isolation.