A vigil by the Democratic Kurdish Community in Switzerland has been taking place in front of the UN headquarters in Geneva since 25 January 2021. Every Wednesday, activists stage a protest in front of the United Nations building to demand the release of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan. The action is carried out as part of the ‘Dem dema azadiye’ [Time for Freedom] campaign and directed against the isolation of the Kurdish leader on the Turkish prison island of Imrali, the Turkish occupation attacks on Kurdistan, the massacres committed in Kurdish territories and the silence of the UN.
This week’s demonstration, which is held at a tent set up in Nations Square where the UN Office is located, began with a moment of silence in memory of Tekoşîn Amed (Zelal Kartal), Gülnaz Ege (Nuran Er), Welat Amed (Azad Başal), and Delîl (Vedat Yılmaz) on the anniversary of their martyrdom.
‘The Turkish state has taken no steps toward peace’
Osman Tekin, co-chair of the Geneva Kurdish Community Center, made the weekly statement and pointed out that the Turkish state has taken no steps toward peace beyond rhetoric since Abdullah Öcalan’s ‘Call for Peace and a Democratic Society’ on February 27.
“On the contrary, the absolute isolation of Leader Öcalan continues, and occupation and genocide attacks in Kurdistan have intensified,” he added.
‘International institutions must fulfill their responsibilities’
Stating that the severe isolation imposed on Öcalan in Imrali violates international law and human rights principles, Tekin addressed institutions such as the Council of Europe, CPT, and the UN: “International institutions have become accomplices to this isolation through their silence. If they truly stand for human rights and peace, they must break their silence and fulfill their responsibilities for the physical freedom of Leader Öcalan.”
Pointing to the Kurdish people’s more than half-century of resistance experience, Tekin said, “The Kurdish people have the accumulated strength to face both peace and war. Our people are organized around Leader Öcalan’s paradigm and are ready for peace. However, they will never back down from escalating their resistance against occupation and annihilation attacks.”
‘Rojava’s status must be recognized’
Tekin also drew attention to the Turkish state’s increasing air strikes against Rojava in recent months, stating that these attacks are directed not only against the Kurdish people but against the will of all Middle Eastern peoples to live freely:
“The attacks against Rojava are an attempt to stifle the democratic, women’s libertarian system. The silence of international powers on this issue is unacceptable. Rojava’s status must be recognized, and respect must be shown for the democratic will of the people.”
‘We are prepared to pay the price’
Tekin concluded: “The preconditions for peace are ensuring free working conditions for Leader Öcalan, recognizing the status of Rojava, and immediately halting the occupation attacks on Kurdistan. As the Kurdish people, we are prepared to pay the price for peace, freedom, and resistance.”