Connor Hayes speaks with Jan Fermon, lead solicitor in the case in which the Belgium Court of Cassation ruled the PKK is not a terrorist organization, about the implications of the Belgian court ruling, the PKKs broader struggle for decriminalization, and the future of resistance in the war on terror era. Jan Fermon is the…
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Category Archives: Ocalan
Why is the World Silent about the Imprisoned Kurdish Leader Ocalan?
By Arian Mufid: 15th February marked the 21st anniversary of the leader of the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan’s imprisonment. Abdullah Ocalan was kidnapped by the Kenyan state who were paid and motivated by a joint operation involving several state intelligence services such as MIT, CIA and Mossad. Abdullah Ocalan is nicknamed ‘APO’ (meaning uncle in Kurdish),…
After 21 Years,Time to Free Ocalan and Grasp the Peace
By Peace in Kurdistan Campaign: Statement marking the 21st anniversary since Ocalan’s abduction in Nairobi, 15th February 1999, by Turkish MIT agents supported by the CIA. It is difficult to believe that it is now more than two decades since Abdullah Ocalan, the leader and founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, lost his freedom. It…
Imrali – New Film on the Isolation of Ocalan, Narrated by Maxine Peake
A group of human rights activists, among them British actress Maxine Peake and former Icelandic Minister of Justice Ögmundur Jónasson travels to Turkey. They want to visit Imrali Prison. But the prisoners there cannot be visited by anyone… This short film (8 mins) tells the story of the 2019 international Imrali Peace Delegation and places…
Open Letter to UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt
Dear Foreign Secretary, We write to express our deep concern over the UK government’s position in its relations with Turkey as the human rights situation inside the country continues to deteriorate rapidly. In particular, we seek to urgently draw your attention to the 7,000 Kurdish political prisoners on hunger strike in Turkish prisons and the…
Resolving the Middle East Crisis: the Ideas of Abdullah Ocalan
By Rebwar Rashed: This was the title of a conference held on Friday 15th February 2019 at the House of Lords in London. There were many great friends of Kurds. It was composed of four sessions. The first one, the alternative solution to the political, social and economic problems in the Middle East: Democratic confederalism: The…
Freedom for Ocalan: Let There Be Peace!
By Rebwar Rashed: The occupation of Kurdistan by four different countries meant many problems for the Kurds, among them having the world as an enemy. These four countries, always totalitarian and believing in the doctrine of military might with semi fascistic and fascistic behavior, were successful in using trade- and economic relations, i.e. buying…
Kobané International Day: Freedom for Ocalan!
By Rebwar Rashed: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), equipped with sophisticated fire power, organized and financed by Turkey and a few Arabic countries in the region, attacked the city of Kobané on 15th September 2015. Soon the democratic opinion of the world realized that the war of ISIS and other fascistic…
Kurdish Freedom Struggle and the Ideas of Ocalan – University of Manchester, 27th Oct
Organised by Friends of Kurdistan – Manchester: Date and time: Thursday 27 Oct, 6.30pm Place: Room LG12, Samuel Alexander Building, University of Manchester (off Oxford Rd) Speakers: Havîn Guneser – Kurdish woman’s activist, journalist and Abdullah Öcalan’s translator Dr Federico Venturini – researcher and activist, specialising in Social Ecology Bert Schouwenburg – International Officer, GMB Simon…
50 Kurdish Politicians on Indefinite Hunger Strike in Amed/Diyarbakır
Joint Statement by DTK, HDK, KJA, HDP and DBP: 50 Kurdish politicians began an indefinite hunger strike demanding that the state abide by international human rights and allow either his family or his lawyers of a party delegation to see Mr.Abdullah Öcalan with whom all communication has been cut for the last 515 days. Moreover, it is certain…
Judge Essa Mossa: Solidarity With the International Call for the Freedom of Ocalan
By Judge Essa Moosa, chairperson of the International Peace and Reconciliation Intitiative (IPRI): IPRI unconditionally supports the international call for Freedom of Abdullah Ocalan initiated by the international trade union movement Unite and GMB which are based in London. IPRI has consistently called for peace in Turkey between the conflict of the Turkish state and…
International Call for the Freedom of Öcalan
Press Conference Report: Several European parliamentarians and human rights defenders met in front of the Council of Europe last Friday and issued a call for the freedom of Öcalan. As the vigil for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan being in front of the Council of Europe by representatives from institutions in the European Kurdish Democratic…
Trade Unions Launch Freedom for Ocalan Campaign
Peace in Kurdistan Campaign Press Release: On 25th April 2016, the trade unions, GMB and Unite, joined forces to launch a campaign to free Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan from prison. The launch took place at a meeting at the Houses of Parliament packed with members of the Commons and the Lords, Journalists and members of…
Freedom for Ocalan Campaign – London Launch, 25 April
The UK campaign launch, hosted by Kate Osamor MP, will be held on Monday 25 April, 2016, 7-9pm in Committee Room 10, Houses of Commons. The event will be chaired by Sir Paul Kenny, former General Secretary of the GMB. This new initiative has been set up by trade unions GMB and Unite and other…
Mark Thomas: ‘Proud to Stand in Solidarity With the Brave Men and Women Who Organise Together and Fight as Equals’
By Mark Thomas: This was the message by the comedian Mark Thomas to Sunday’s UK national ‘Stop Turkey’s War on Kurds! Break the Silence!’ demonstration: Comrades and friends, I am sorry not to join you today but despite my best efforts the vagaries of privatised public transport have prevented me joining you. I am massively…
