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 Arin Mirkan, Apê Nemır, and Gelhat Gabar, commanders of the Kobanê resistance.
Speaking on behalf of the Geneva Action Committee, Serhat Polat stated that the state has still not taken concrete steps in the Peace and Democratic Solution process that began in 2024, saying, “The Freedom Movement has taken all the necessary steps to pave the way for peace; now it is the state’s turn.”
Polat emphasized that the new paradigm developed by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan must be understood in its entirety and applied in all areas of life.
“Even though isolation has been broken partially, we will not give up on the physical freedom of our leader,” he added.
Polat warned against “certain individuals and institutions linked to the deep state and intelligence services who appear to be committed to the freedom struggle alongside the peace process, but who actually discredit the Kurdish movement with their emphasis on Kurdish nationalism.”
“The aim of these individuals and institutions is to sabotage the process. We call on all patriotic people and our friends to be vigilant on this issue and to clearly state their position,” he added.
Polat called on Kurds and their friends to participate in the central rally to be held in Cologne on November 8 to demand the physical freedom of Öcalan.
Polat further called upon international institutions and organizations to act immediately on the right to hope for Öcalan and exert all necessary pressure on the Turkish state.
“Let us be the voice of peace; we will definitely prevail,” he concluded.