The Co-Chair of the Executive Council of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), Cemil Bayık, called for the physical freedom of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan in a video message to the mass demonstration in Strasbourg, and described the current situation in Rojava as a “continuation of the international conspiracy” against the PKK founder.
The rally, held on the anniversary of Öcalan’s unlawful abduction on February 15, 1999, centers on the demand for his freedom and for a political status for Rojava. Bayık referred to the day as a “black day in the history of our people” and emphasized that the intelligence operation carried out against Öcalan at the time continues “to this day” in the form of political and military attacks against the Kurdish population: “The conspiracy of 1999 continues today in Rojava. Our opponents want to suffocate every attempt at a solution.”
From negotiations to escalation
Bayık drew a direct link between the recent escalation in Rojava and political developments that began in early January in Damascus. Talks had taken place there between the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the self-declared Syrian transitional government regarding the implementation of an agreement concluded in March of last year, which envisages the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into Syrian state structures. According to Bayık, these discussions had progressed significantly with reference to Öcalan’s messages: “The problems had been resolved; only the signatures were missing,” he said.
However, while the meeting was still ongoing, the dynamics reportedly shifted and the talks were abruptly broken off. Shortly thereafter, an international meeting took place in Paris with the participation of the authorities in Damascus, Turkey, Israel, and Western states. This was followed by a Syrian offensive against the predominantly Kurdish north of Aleppo, which was soon expanded to other areas of the Autonomous Region of North and East Syria.
Bayık interpreted this as part of a “coordinated attempt” to push back the Kurdish population and dismantle its achievements. He stressed that the collective resistance of the population, together with the defense forces SDF, YPG, and YPJ, had halted the attacks and “thwarted the political plans of the aggressors.”
‘Our people have shown that their will cannot be broken’
A significant portion of Bayık’s address was devoted to praising the protests in Rojava, Kurdistan, and the diaspora. He said the mobilization had taken on historic significance and once again made the political importance of the Kurdish question visible: “Such an uprising has never occurred in our history. Our people have shown the world that they are defending their future.”
Bayık directly linked this development to Öcalan’s decades-long political work toward a solution to the Kurdistan question. Öcalan’s paradigm, he said, created “consciousness, experience, and a sense of freedom” — forming the foundation that enables Kurds today to act with confidence.
At the same time, Bayık warned of actors seeking to intensify ethnic tensions in order to weaken Kurdish political organization and prevent a resolution of the Kurdish question: “There are forces that thrive on conflict between Kurds, Arabs, Turks, or Persians. They must not be given any space.”
‘Öcalan must be physically free and able to work under free conditions’
The central point of Bayık’s video message was the demand for Öcalan’s freedom. According to Bayık, political prospects for Kurdistan and the region are not achievable without his active role: “Abdullah Öcalan must be physically free and able to work under free conditions. Only then can his project for democracy and freedom succeed.”
Bayık recalled that Öcalan has been held under strict isolation on the prison island of Imrali since 1999. Nevertheless, for large segments of the Kurdish population, he continues to be regarded as a key political reference point, particularly in relation to the current dialogue process in Turkey and negotiations on the Kurdish question.
In conclusion, Bayık reaffirmed the Kurdish movement’s commitment to advancing unity among Kurdish political forces: “Our people have given us the mandate for unity. We will fulfill it.”
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