Cal Kurd

Sit-in for Öcalan’s freedom in Geneva marks its 60th week

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For over a year now, Kurds and people in solidarity have been demanding the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and a democratic solution to the Kurdish question in front of the United Nations (UN) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The first rally in the framework of the “Time for Freedom” campaign took place on 25 January 2021. Since then, activists have staged a sit-in in front of the UN building every Wednesday to protest against the international silence on the Turkish campaign of destruction in Kurdistan. In addition to the central demand for freedom for the Kurdish leader and PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan, various current issues have been brought up at the vigil over the course of the year. The UN is urged to act against the war crimes of the Turkish army and to investigate the use of chemical weapons.

In yesterday’s action organized as part of the “Dem dema azadiyê” (Time for freedom) campaign, a minute’s silence was observed to remember Mahsum Korkmaz (Egîd), a commander of the 15 August 1984 Initiative which launched the PKK’s struggle against the Turkish state, the martyrs of the Heroism Week, and Mahir Çayan who was martyred on March 30, 1972 in Kızıldere and his companions.

CDK Geneva Co-Chair Mülkiye Bulut made a speech and said, “As long as Öcalan is not freed, neither the Kurdish people nor Kurdistan will be free. Öcalan’s paradigm which promotes peace and stability in Turkey and the Middle East has been embraced by millions today. We will continue to demand his freedom against international powers.”

Speaking after, CDK Geneva Co-Chair Erdal Atasoy said that the Kurdish people have responded to occupying and murderous forces by standing with their leader in opposition to the line of betrayal.

“Through its isolation policies and with the backing of international forces, the Turkish state aims to decimate the will of the Kurdish people and to introduce total slaughter. We will continue to expose these policies in order to secure the freedom of our leader,” Atasoy added.

During the sit-in, an appeal was made for participation in another event to be held in front of the UN on Saturday (April 2) at 14.00 under the auspices of the Swiss Kurdish Women’s Movement (YJK-S).