A group of young people who came together in Europe and identify themselves as internationalists have launched an initiative called “Insisting On Freedom” with the aim of securing the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and contributing to the democratic resolution of the Kurdish question.
A seven-member delegation consisting of initiative members has arrived in Turkey on Thursday for a series of meetings and events.
The delegation submitted a written request to the Ministry of Justice in Ankara to meet with Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been incarcerated in İmralı Island Prison since 1999 when he was handed over to Turkey as a result of an international conspiracy.
The young activists were accompanied by Sümeyye Boz and Vezir Parlak, the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) deputies for Muş and Hakkari.
The request was submitted by the following: Merlin Wendt – Germany, member of Socialist Youth The Falcons; Mari Chureau – France, member of For Social Ecology For People PEPS; Ritchy Thibault – France, member of For Social Ecology For People PEPS; Benni Dragone – Italy, press; Martina – Italy, member of the Internationalist Youth Commune; Marie – Germany, member of the YUNA Democratic Youth and Young Women’s Commune; Giosve Vicidomini – Italy, member of the Youth Organization of the UGS Sinistra Italiana Party. “
Following the application, the activists will hold meetings with Tülay Hatimoğulları, Co-Chair of the People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), the DEM Party Youth Assembly, and the Parliamentary Group. A meeting with Özgür Erol, a member of the Imralı Delegation, is also planned.
The activists will then hold a press conference to share the initiative’s goals with the public. They will then travel from Ankara to Istanbul for a series of visits and events.
Young people will meet with Asrın Law Office, the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), the ‘I Need Peace’ Initiative, the Mesopotamia Cultural Center (MKM), and various media organizations in Istanbul to learn about the “Peace and Democratic Society Process” and share their goals. As part of the program, a panel discussion on socialism and internationalism will also be held.
The initiative can be reached via:
Twitter: @insistingfree
Telegram: t.me/insistingonfreedom
TikTok: insisting_on_freedom