The trade unions OSTA, CGT Burgos and ELA (Basque trade union), together with the party Estau Aragonés, have written to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe about the need to guarantee the rights of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and to facilitate his active participation in a peace process in the Middle East.
The organizations have joined the campaign of letters to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. In a context of growing tension in the region, the organization highlighted Öcalan’s role as a key figure in advocating dialogue and de-escalation of the conflict, in contrast to the prevailing dynamics of military confrontation.
The letter recalled that “In February 2026, the Commission released its final report. Although the report emphasises the importance of full compliance with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the Constitutional Court (AYM) and recommends strengthening existing mechanisms, its continued use of the framework of counterterrorism remains a barrier to true dialogue and reconciliation. The report indicated that the Turkish government took note of the recommendation issued by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe last September, but no concrete measures were implemented.”
The letter also underlined that “Despite the considerable challenges posed by ongoing regional turmoil, Mr. Öcalan has, over the past year, demonstrated a consistent commitment to translating his statements into tangible actions. Following his call, the PKK announced the end of its strategy of armed struggle and its dissolution as an organisation. In this context, last year hundreds of institutions and personalities, among them 88 Nobel Prize laureates voiced their support for Mr. Öcalan’s actions in the promotion of coexistence between nations. On the anniversary of his 2025 call, Mr. Öcalan issued a further statement reaffirming his commitment to peace and the democratisation of the Republic of Turkey.”
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