Residents of Aleppo demand physical freedom of Leader Ocalan

As part of a series of events advocating for the physical freedom of Abdullah Ocalan, the residents of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyah and the War Wounded Foundation in Aleppo issued separate statements today.

The statement from the residents of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyah was read in Arabic by Fariha Ahmed, an administrator in the Democratic Union Party, and in Kurdish by Manan Jafar, Co-Chair of the Yazidi House in Aleppo. The reading took place in the Leader Abdullah Ocalan Garden in the Shaqif area of Aleppo.

The statement highlighted the continuation of the isolation policy imposed on Thinker and Leader Abdullah Ocalan in Imrali Prison for over 26 years. Despite the peace and democratic society call announced on February 27 this year, the Turkish authorities have not taken any serious steps regarding this call, which is seen as the key to resolving all issues in the Middle East.

The statement drew attention to the Peace and Democratic Society Manifesto, describing it as historically and objectively essential for the region’s peoples, who have been exhausted by wars and authoritarian regimes. It affirmed that Leader Ocalan’s proposals in the manifesto reflect the core meaning and essence of existence.

The statement also noted that Aleppo residents had written thousands of letters supporting the campaign “I Want to Visit Abdullah Ocalan,” in which they expressed the leader’s historical role in liberating peoples. Leader Ocalan has become a symbol of resistance and a source of intellectual and humanitarian inspiration beyond political boundaries. The letters demanded his physical freedom as a fundamental condition for the peace process.

Meanwhile, the statement from the War Wounded Foundation was read by Mustafa Ma’mou in front of the foundation’s center in Sheikh Maqsood, in the presence of dozens of war-wounded individuals.

The statement explained that on February 27 of this year, Leader Abdullah Ocalan changed strategies across the Middle East, from Kurdistan to neighboring countries. It referred to his peace call, the announcement of the PKK’s dissolution, and ongoing negotiations, all contributing to a shift in regional politics, particularly in Turkey.

It also emphasized that the global campaign “Freedom for Abdullah Ocalan, Solution to the Kurdish Issue” has yielded historic results, notably Leader Ocalan appearing in a video for the first time after 26 years of complete isolation.

The statement stressed the need for Turkey to commit to democratic negotiations and to consolidate the peace process, which began with the PKK’s dissolution and the destruction of its weapons. Consolidating peace in Turkey is expected to have positive repercussions for neighboring countries as well.

The War Wounded Foundation concluded its statement by calling on the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, United Nations organizations, human rights advocates, lawyers, and peoples yearning for peace, democracy, and freedom to rally behind the Peace and Democratic Society Call and the “I Want to Visit Abdullah Ocalan” campaign, in order to solidify the peace process and achieve the physical freedom of Leader Abdullah Ocalan.

A-H 

ANHA