Demonstrators in Germany call for meeting with Öcalan

Demonstrations are continuing around the world by Kurds and their supporters for an end to the aggravated isolation of Kurdish and PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Öcalan has not been seen by anyone since April 2015 and fears have risen about his health and safety since the 15 July coup attempt in Turkey. Kurdish political parties, human rights organisations and public figures have called for an end to the isolation.

Meanwhile Kurds across the four Kurdish regions and Europe have been demonstrating for a meeting with Öcalan, with protests increasing as the Kurdish leader’s isolation ensues.

Melbourne

Kurdish people and their allies led by the Kurdish Democratic Society Center (NAV-KURD), Victoria Kurdish Women’s Union and Australians for Kurdistan gathered in front of the State Library in Melbourne and demanded freedom for Öcalan. Dave Holmes spoke on behalf of the allies of Kurdish people in Australia, emphasised the human rights violations and massacres in Kurdistan, and demanded the freedom of Öcalan for achieving peace in the region.

London

Hundreds of people gathered in Trafalgar Square to demand an end to Öcalan’s isolation and freedom for the Kurdish leader and peace in Kurdistan. The crowd then began marching to the BBC headquarters.

Kassel

Dozens of people in Kassel, Germany came together in Königsplatz, celebrated the liberation of Manbij, and demanded an immediate end to Öcalan’s isolation.

Freiburg

Kurds and their supporters, led by the Nuda Women’s Assembly and Freiburg Democratic Kurdish Society Center and supported by the German ANTIFA and Die Linke met at Freiburg University Square, in Freiburg, Germany. The protestors condemned the isolation of Öcalan and demanded freedom.

Bonn

Kurdish people and their allies led by NAV-DEM gathered in Bonn Hauptbahnhof, Bonn, Germany to condemn the isolation of Öcalan and to demand the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) to send a committee to Imralı Island prison immediately.

Frankfurt

People of Kurdistan and their allies came together in Kaiserstrasse, Frankfurt, Germany, celebrated the liberation of Manbij, and demanded the end of the isolation of Öcalan in İmralı Island.

Nürnberg

Approximately 100 Kurdish people met in Nürnberg to condemn the isolation of Öcalan and demand his freedom, and one person got injured when Turkish ultra-nationalists attacked the protestors.

Borde

Nearly 1000 people led by NAV-DEM gathered in Bordeaux to condemn the isolation of Öcalan and to demand his freedom.

Mannheim and Saarbrücken

More than a thousand protestors met near the Europa Galeria in Mannheim, Germany, to demand the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan. Die Linke parliamentarians and MKP representatives participated in the protest led by NAV-DEM and Mannheim Democratic Kurdish Society Center.

Marseille

More than 3 thousand people met in front of the governorate building in Marseille, France to condemn the isolation of Öcalan and demand the CPT and Amnesty International to take action regarding Öcalan’s condition.

Strasbourg

Kurds, Turkish leftist groups and French supporters of Kurds gathered in Strasbourg to condemn Öcalan’s isolation and Erdoğan’s policies. The protestors called upon the CPT, the European Council, the European Union and other international institutions to take actions regarding Öcalan’s condition.

Stockholm

Kurds and their supporters gathered in Humlegården Park and marched to Norrmalmstorg Square, Stockholm, Sweden to condemn the policies of the Turkish state and the isolation of Öcalan, demand the freedom of Öcalan, and distribute pamphlets on the freedom struggle of Kurdish people.

Helsingborg

Nearly 200 people came together in Storatorget Square, Helsingborg, Sweden to condemn Öcalan’s isolation and demand the removal of the PKK from the list of terrorist organisations. Left Party representative Claudia Velasques and NCDK representative Hilal Altun spoke during the demonstration.

Örebro

Kurds and their allies gathered in front of the Municipal Building in Örebro to condemn the isolation on Abdullah Öcalan and demand his immediate release.

Source: ANF