Turkey: What's behind Erdogan's outreach to Kurds?

Elmas Topcu 

DW

November 20, 2024

The Turkish government is sending ambiguous signals to the Kurds. Analysts believe it is hoping to garner some votes while also possibly splitting the opposition.

Political gestures of importance: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shakes the hand of Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Leader Devlet Bahceli (L)

Image: DHA

When Devlet Bahceli, chairman of the ultra-nationalist Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP party, shook hands with politicians from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), the gesture marked a political U-turn.

Up until October, Bahceli had claimed that the left-wing, pro-Kurdish DEM Party, just like its predecessor, the HDP, was an extension of the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party ( PKK) and should, therefore, be banned.

Even more surprising was Bahceli's next suggestion that PKK head Abdullah Ocalan could be released in exchange for announcing the dissolution of his party. Bahceli's party is considered the parent organization of the right-wing extremist group Grey Wolves and is known for its anti-minority ideology.

In the following days, the 76-year-old Ocalan received a visit from his family for the first time in 43 months. He has been in solitary confinement in a high-security prison since 1999.

A peace process with the PKK was put in place a decade ago already, but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan terminated it a year later in 2015.

After a few non-violent years, the bloody conflict flared up once more.

The Turkish government cracked down on Kurdish politicians in Turkey and launched military operations in northern Iraq and northeastern Syria.

The PKK has its headquarters in Iraq's Qandil Mountains. A de facto self-governing Kurdish state, known as Rojava, has established itself in northeastern Syria.

Ahmet Turk, a pro-Kurdish politician, was elected as mayor three times and also dismissed three times

Image: Kivanc El/DW

A carrot and stick approach?

Since Bahceli's push for Ocalan's potential early release, people in Turkey have been puzzling over what the government in Ankara is up to.

Why are its representatives seeking proximity to Ocalan at the same time as elected Kurdish local politicians are being removed from office?

In late October, Ahmet Ozer, the mayor of Istanbul's Esenyurt district and a member of the Republican People's Party (CHP), was arrested for alleged links to the PKK.

A few days later, three Kurdish mayors in southeastern Turkey were replaced by state officers.

This also happened to Ahmet Turk, an 82-year-old veteran of Kurdish politics. He has been elected and dismissed as mayor of the city of Mardin three times.

Observers agree that Erdogan is set on becoming the president of Turkey again.

However, a constitutional amendment would be necessary for a fourth term in office. As of now, Erdogan lacks the necessary majority in parliament.

Analysts believe that his plan is to use the carrot and stick approach to bring the Kurds and pro-Kurdish DEM Party into line by offering concessions, such as softening Ocalan's sentence to house arrest or possibly ending the practice of imposing state officials in Kurdish regions.

Moreover, such moves could also split the opposition.

Could the Turkish government's hope be to offset Abdullah Ocalan's release for Kurdish votes?

Image: Christoph Hardt/Panama Pictures/picture alliance

Power shift in the Middle East?

Arzu Yilmaz, a political scientist at the University of Kurdistan Hewler in Iraq's city of Erbil believes that there are other reasons for the latest developments.

"First and foremost, the unstable situation in the Middle East and the US govenment's decision to withdraw US soldiers from Iraq and Syria by 2026," she told DW.

Given Donald Trump's re-election, this could happen sooner than expected, she added.

Around 2,500 US soldiers are still stationed in Iraq, and some 900 in Syria, where they cooperate closely with local Kurdish militias.

"The balance of power in the Middle East is shifting, but despite its ambitions, Turkey is not an important player," Yilmaz said, saying that Ankara might want to change that.

Bese Hozat, the co-chair of the Kurdistan Communities Union, an umbrella organization of several parties of Kurdistan, including the PKK, echoed these thoughts. "Turkey's geopolitical and geostrategic position and influence in the region is gradually weakening," she said in an interview, adding that this was "causing the Turkish government to panic."

In her view, this has pushed it to find a workaround and try to instrumentalize Kurdish leader Ocalan for its own purposes.

Military operations expected

Earlier this month, Erdogan announced that he would soon close the "security gaps on the southern borders".

This signals a new round of Turkish military operations in Syria and Iraq.

Arzu Yilmaz believes that the Iraqi Kurds have no reason to worry about the future as their status quo is enshrined in Iraq's constitution.

However, the future of the self-governing Kurdish region in northeastern Syria is more uncertain, she said, adding that so far the US had supported the Kurds but it remained to be seen what would happen after the withdrawal of US troops. It was unclear who would fill the resulting power vacuum.

A key factor would be how the Kurds in the various regions cooperated with each other, she said: "This will determine whether the Kurds ultimately emerge from this crisis stronger or weaker."

Sources close to the PKK say that an initial meeting of Kurdish parties from Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey took place in the Belgian capital Brussels in November, however, the result of the discussion remains unknown.

The Kurds are the largest ethnic group in the world without their own state. According to estimates, more than 12 million live in Turkey, around 6 million in Iraq and the same in Iran, and just under 3 million in Syria.

Germany boasts the largest Kurdish diaspora community, which numbers around 1 million.

This article was translated from German.

PKK/YPJ KURDISH FEMINIST DEMOCRACY

Rûken Nexede: Women did not surrender to male-dominated mentality

Rûken Nexede of the KJAR said that the women's struggle in Iran and East Kurdistan continues. Inspired by Öcalan’s philosophy, a great social awakening has taken place.

HEWRÎN CENGAWER
NEWS DESK
Tuesday, 19 November 2024,


East Kurdistan, which is ruled by the Iranian regime, is a focus of women's resistance. The 'Jin Jiyan Azadî' revolution was initiated by the women of East Kurdistan. The region is a place of both determined resistance and the harshest repression. On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, Rûken Nexede of the Community of Free Women of Eastern Kurdistan (KJAR) spoke about the prospects of women's freedom struggle.


"An unprecedented level of women's struggle"

First, Rûken Nexede paid tribute to the people who lost their lives in the fight against patriarchy and emphasized that the existence of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is the result of the anti-patriarchal women's struggle. She spoke about the special level that the women's struggle has reached today, and said: "Today there is a general women's organization, women are discussing confederalism, they are expanding their knowledge of military organization. Women have reached a level in the 21st century for which we can proudly congratulate them on their resistance and uprisings. With the emergence of the apoist movement, many achievements such as the women's revolution, the military organization of women and the science of women have been realized."

"Women have never submitted to patriarchy"

Nexede added: "Throughout history, women have not submitted to patriarchy either spiritually or intellectually. Through Rêber Apo [Abdulla Öcalan], women returned to their true nature and learned how to fight against the patriarchal mentality, organize themselves and build a free life. The apoist women's movement was organized from this awareness and continues to fight on this basis today. Rêber Apo defined the 21st century as the women's revolution. We are proud of all the women's struggles that have taken place up to now. All of these struggles were fought with great difficulties and sacrifices. This struggle was fought by our martyrs like Heval Roza, Heval Sara and Heval Şîrîn in the prisons, mountains, cities and villages. With their heads held high, women emerged from the darkness with the philosophy of Rêber Apo."

"A free life means true love"

Nexede continued: "Rêber Apo described the personality of free women and men in a way that we can see in the sacrificial attitude of Heval Asya and Heval Rojger. Their willingness to make any sacrifice is so meaningful that we do not know how to appreciate them sufficiently. From the personality and actions of these comrades, we can see that a free life means true love. Therefore, I would like to pay tribute to them once again for the level of freedom they have achieved. The way to honor these martyrs is to also attain this level of freedom. In order to build a free life, all women should adopt these actions."

"Every place that Apoism reaches experiences a change"

Nexede said: "With the 'Jin Jiyan Azadî' revolution, women recognized the lost will and power of the people. At the same time, questions arose for both women and men: Who am I, how do I live, what do I live for and where do I live, what is domination, what is violence? This revolution made everyone question themselves. Artists questioned what their art was for; scientists began to investigate what science was and who it served. There was discussion about the extent to which the state was using science for its own interests. Everyone began to ask questions."

"Fear was defeated"

Nexede said: "Families began to question what family meant, what the roots of the family concept were and what it was for. The predetermined role of women, girls and boys was questioned. Students began to question how they learned things and whether it was for life or in the service of the system. Rêber Apo's philosophy brings about change wherever it reaches. The Iranian regime is currently desperate, it has no more resources and is in crisis. The pressure on society is great. Women and young people are massively oppressed under the guise of religion. But people have now seen the true face of this regime, they are taking a stand and fighting without fear. Although they know they may fall as martyrs, they continue to fight, make no compromises and sacrifice themselves for the freedom revolution."

TJK-E: Let's fill the streets with the slogan

 'Jin Jiyan Azadi'

'WOMAN, LIFE, FREEDOM'

TJK-E called on all women to participate in the actions and events they will hold on the occasion of 25 November International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.


ANF
NEWS DESK
Monday, 18 November 2024, 12:02

The European Kurdish Women’s Movement (TJK-E) issued a written statement on the occasion of 25 November International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

TJK-E said: “We welcome 25 November 2024, with the slogans ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ rising all around the world. With the great struggles of women who say another world is possible, the patriarchal-statist system is being shaken from its roots today. On the occasion of 25 November International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we remember with love and respect all women who resisted, worked hard and paid the price on this path, from the Mirabel Sisters to Sara, from Hevrin Xelef to Jîna Amini, who were the expressions of insistence on a free life against the fascist Trujillo regime. Their determination, love and struggle for a free life continues to grow in women’s struggle for freedom today.”

The TJK-E added: “We are going through a time when the Third World War is making itself felt the most. Women are the ones who suffer the most from the reality of war that has seeped into the daily life of society; from the attacks and policies developed by the nation-state, capitalist modernity and the patriarchal system in a multi-layered and multi-faceted manner. The Third World War, which developed as a result of the existence and interests of hegemonic powers, concerns us Kurdish women the most, both because its center is in the Middle East and because misogynist policies are being brought to the top. For this reason, the task of developing our own self-organization, self-policy, self-defense, and creating alternatives in terms of social, economic, cultural and educational aspects, as well as resisting genocidal attacks, is more urgent than ever. This urgency determines the essence of our struggle as Kurdish women.”

We will expand the struggle against attacks

The statement continued: “We, the European Kurdish Women's Movement (TJK-E), are aware that women are targeted in the Third World War, and that women's self-defense must be developed.

We see 25 November as a day when our continuous struggle reached its peak, when women's organization, actions and creations reached their peak.

As Kurdish women living in Europe, we say that we will defeat the trustees who disregard the will of women in Bakur, the execution policies of the Iranian regime, the invasion plans for Rojava, the betrayal in Bashur and isolation in Imrali. On this basis, we call on all women to participate in the actions and events we will hold with great enthusiasm and to make the streets in every country in Europe resound with the slogan “Jin Jiyan Azadi.”

ACTION CALENDAR

The actions and events to be held between November 18-25

Hundreds of men march against violence against women in Qamishlo

Events are being held in many centres in North-East Syria to combat violence against women on the occasion of 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.


ANF
QAMISHLO
Monday, 18 November 2024

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, the autonomous region of North and East Syria is holding a series of events over several weeks. This year's activities by the women's associations in the region are under the motto ‘Defend yourselves with the Jin-Jiyan-Azadî philosophy’ and aim to raise awareness in society and empower women through education and high-profile actions.

Hundreds of men took to the streets in Qamishlo and staged a march with slogans condemning violence against women.

The march from Sonî Junction to Martyr Rûbar Junction was participated by hundreds of people from civil society organisations and many institutions of the Democratic Autonomous Administration.



A press statement made on behalf of Kongra Star highlighted Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan’s thoughts on women's struggle and pointed out that society needs free women.

Referring to the meaning of 25 November, Cewahir Osman said, “The ruling forces impose violence on society in the person of women. Violence against Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) is violence against all women. We say enough is enough and we say that you cannot break our will as a people.”

Another speaker, Xufran Tewkeb, who addressed the crowd pointed out that women struggle for freedom all over the world and stated that violence must be rejected.

Xufran Tewkeb stated that Öcalan’s ideas and philosophy are the source of the struggle for women's freedom and emphasised that women will continue this struggle in the strongest way.

Karasu: Violence against women is a social problem


ANF
NEWS DESK
Monday, 18 November 2024

In the third part of this interview, Mustafa Karasu, member of the KCK Executive Council, talked about the upcoming 25 November, International Day Against Violence Against Women, as well as the 27 November, the anniversary of the founding of the PKK.

The first part of the interview can be read here, the second here.

We are currently approaching an anniversary, namely November 25, the International Day Against Violence Against Women. What do you have to say in this context, especially to men?

The women’s issue is, of course, an important cause. Violence against women is a thousand-year phenomenon. Violence against women is a historical phenomenon, and one can say that it is one of the oldest problems of society. In fact, it is the source of all other problems. The source of social problems is domination over women. And what is dominance built on? It is achieved through violence, through many forms of violence against women. Rêber Apo speaks of the woman as the first colony. She was treated like the first colonized nation. And has since then been oppressed for thousands of years.

In this respect, this problem is more than just the fact that many men have oppressed women and many men have killed women. It is a social problem that concerns the whole society. It is a problem that needs to be solved. Without the elimination of violence against women, without the elimination of the policy of violence against women, in other words, without women being free, society cannot be at peace. Society cannot be healthy. Where there is violence against women, society is sick and unhealthy. It is a great humanitarian problem to inflict violence on the mother, the one who gives birth and raises the child. A woman is part of society, half of it, and violence is particularly practiced against her. Of course, this must be opposed. One cannot be a democrat, a human being, a moral person, or a conscientious person without taking a stand against this.

Violence against women is a social problem. There is this approach among men. It is an approach that feeds on male dominance and is related to morality and conscience. Men have that tendency. It has been implemented in their genes for thousands of years. It has become a culture of belittling women and practicing violence against women. Every man must know that this culture has infected him, and he must get rid of this evil, this ugliness. This is a very important issue.

Rêber Apo has paved the way for the women’s freedom struggle, and there have been important developments in Kurdistan. But still, in Kurdish society, men’s understanding of violence against women continues. He has not been able to get rid of all that dirt and rust. If Kurdish youths and Kurdish men say that they are loyal to Rêber Apo, if they talk about the freedom of the Kurdish people and democracy, they should definitely change their approach towards women. Men, patriots need to get rid of this tendency to violence against women. Otherwise, their patriotism is incomplete. One cannot be a true patriot, democrat, or freedom seeker; one cannot be conscientious or moral if one doesn’t work on getting rid of this.

The issue of violence against women is important. And when I say violence, I mean it in any aspect. Even raising one’s voice against a woman is violence. Generally, men raise their voices to women when something happens. This is a tendency of masculinity, a tendency to dominance. But there are so many more forms of violence, restriction in social life, not seeing women as equal, exclusion, etc.

On the occasion of the approaching November 25th, I commemorate the Mirabal sisters with gratitude and respect. November 25th has become a day of struggle against violence, and it is having a great impact. It has spread to the world. On this occasion, I condemn all violence against women, and I call on all patriots and democrats to fight against violence against women. All patriots in Kurdistan must avoid violence when approaching their wives, children, daughters, and sisters. This is true patriotism.

Another anniversary is also slowly approaching, the founding day of the PKK, on November 27. For decades, it has been said that the PKK is on the verge of being crushed, but again and again it continues to develop and emerge stronger as before. What can you tell us about this, or about the approaching anniversary in general?

The founder of the PKK is Rêber Apo. Rêber Apo founded, developed, and brought the PKK to the present day on the basis of an ideology that has continuously developed and sustained itself from the first to the present day, that is, on the basis of an ideology that integrates itself with society, integrates itself with the people, integrates the struggle, in other words, ensures that the society embraces the people. It has been 46 years now, and there have even been more before that. For more than 50 years, a struggle has been going on. This has created a culture. The PKK is no longer just an organization or a political party.

Today, the PKK is a social culture, a social mentality, a part of society. In other words, society has also become the PKK. That’s why society constantly chanted slogans like “PKK is the people, the people are here.” This is the reality. It is no longer possible to separate the PKK from the Kurdish people. It is not possible to separate it from Kurdish history. It is not possible to separate it from Kurdish culture. The PKK’s survival at this level, its strong existence despite all the attacks, is the result of this. The PKK is a power beyond its current concrete strength. If the attacks against the PKK fail to achieve results, it is because the PKK is a bigger force than it appears. It is a movement deeply rooted in society.

The PKK has always gotten stronger, is getting stronger, and will get stronger. The PKK is the organized form of Rêber Apo’s thought. Rêber Apo’s thought is a thought that will no longer determine the present but the future. The PKK, which is its organized form, will continue its influence in the future. It has militants like Asya Ali and Rojger Helin. These are the values they have created. There is prison resistance; there is the women’s movement. As Rêber Apo said, the PKK is a women’s party. It is a party shaped on values that we cannot list here. It is delusional to think that the PKK can be destroyed through these and those attacks. That is why the reality of the PKK is a reality that needs to be further researched and analyzed.

The PKK has become a reality beyond us. This needs to be seen. If the PKK were just material assets, concrete realities, the PKK would not be able to survive under so many attacks. The PKK has a spirit that keeps it alive. That power, which is beyond its concrete existence, beyond its material existence, sustains the PKK. It keeps us constantly struggling, and by struggling, we constantly yield results. This cannot be prevented by any attack. On this basis, I salute Rêber Apo once again with gratitude and respect for creating such a party. I also remember with gratitude and respect all our martyrs who have brought the PKK to this day. The PKK will struggle by adhering to their memory and will realize their aspirations.

FREE OCALAN!

Historic rally in Cologne: We are ready for an honourable and democratic solution

Kurds and their friends who came together in Cologne for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan gave the message “We are ready for an honourable and democratic solution’ and “The key to the solution is in İmralı.”


ANF
COLOGNE
Saturday, 16 November 2024,

Thousands of people rallied in the German city of Cologne on Saturday demanding freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question.

The demonstration in Cologne is organised under the slogan ‘Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question’ in the scope of the international campaign ‘Freedom for Öcalan - A Political Solution to the Kurdish Question’, which was launched in October 2023 and recently joined by 69 Nobel Prize winners worldwide. The participants made an urgent appeal for the release of Abdullah Öcalan and the resumption of a dialogue process to resolve the decades-long conflict in Kurdistan through peace negotiations.

The rally started with a moment of silence for the martyrs of Kurdistan and the world revolution and the anthem ‘Ey Raqip’, followed by speeches by Zübeyde Zümrüt and Engin Sever, Co-chairs of KCDK-E (European Democratic Societies Congress), and Ayten Kaplan, representative of TJK-E (Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe).

A written message by the KJK (Kurdistan Women's Union) Coordination said: “Now is the time to succeed in the unceasing struggle of our people and martyrs for a Free Kurdistan and a Free Leader. To this end, history expects us more than ever to lead in struggle, work, organisation, action and labour. We greet you with our most sincere love and loyalty with our belief that you will enlarge the struggle you have carried out until now.”

Geisweid: We demand justice and human rights for Mr Öcalan and all political prisoners

Speaking after, MAF-DAD Co-Chair Heike Geisweid said, “We gathered here today to protest against the inhumane isolation of Mr Abdullah Öcalan. This situation is not only contrary to international standards, but also violates Mr Öcalan's basic human rights on a daily basis. Since 15 February 1999, Mr. Öcalan has been held in the F-Type High Security Prison on Imrali Island and has been subjected to a system of isolation and torture rarely seen in the world.

İmralı Island and the prison have been placed in a ‘crisis situation’ with special restrictions since 16 February 1999. This crisis situation can only be declared regionally and temporarily in extraordinary circumstances such as natural disasters, war or earthquakes. However, this ‘crisis situation’ was legalised by regulations after July 2016.

From 27 July 2011 until the coup attempt in 2016, the weekly visit requests of Mr Öcalan's lawyers were rejected on various fabricated grounds. The visits could not take place on allegations of unfavourable weather conditions and technical defect of the coaster going to the island. Immediately after the declaration of the state of emergency in 2016, an execution judge in Bursa took the first decision to ban lawyer visits in İmralı Prison. After 15 July 2016, this ban was renewed every six months under the pretext of the state of emergency.

In Mr Öcalan's case, the ‘Right to Hope’ has also been de facto abolished. In a judgement delivered in March 2014, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Turkey had violated Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment - by imposing an irrevocable life sentence on Abdullah Öcalan.

As lawyers, we are well aware of the political and social implications of this situation. Because Mr Öcalan is not just a political prisoner; his case goes beyond individual destiny. He is a symbol of the Kurdish people's decades-long struggle for freedom, self-determination and justice.

Together with our colleagues around the world, we call on the international community not to turn a blind eye to this situation. It is shameful that Western states and international organisations remain silent on this unlawful and inhumane situation.

We call on the European Union, the United Nations and all human rights organisations to finally take a clear stand and put pressure on the Turkish government to end this inhumane practice. It is time for Mr Öcalan to have his fundamental rights restored.

We demand the immediate lifting of the ban on meetings with his lawyers and regular visits to İmralı.

We demand justice and human rights for Mr Öcalan and all political prisoners and demand an end to all forms of isolation.

We demand the implementation of the right to hope for all political prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment in the Turkish criminal justice system.

We demand the immediate release of Mr Abdullah Öcalan.

KNK Co-Chair: The Kurdish people do not want conflict, they want peace

Speaking after, KNK (Kurdistan National Congress) Co-Chair Ahmet Karamus said the following:

Let us turn your valuable and majestic stance into the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, the will of the Kurdish people. The isolation of the leader continues, let's break it. Let's turn this will into the will for a solution in four parts.

Here is our message to the Turkish state, Europe, America, NATO and the whole world: Mr Öcalan is the will of the Kurdish people. Mr Öcalan is ready to take on a role for peace and solution if appropriate conditions are provided. And he says ‘I have this power’. This will and power comes from your struggle and determination; it gives Mr Öcalan the power of leadership and solution.

The Kurdish people are ready for equality, democracy and peace. All four parts of Kurdistan are ready for both peace and resistance with all methods to achieve this goal. The Kurdish people continue the struggle with millions of will. Your resistance and determination strengthen this hope. A solution to the Middle East and the world will be achieved together. A solution is possible under the leadership of Mr Öcalan. If the Turkish state does not want to delay our people and waste time with deception, trickery and lies, it should know that our people have the will, project and means for a solution.


The Kurdish people have made a decision for a solution, for peace. I want to convey this message clearly to the whole world, especially to Europe, America, Russia and the UN. The Kurdish people do not want conflict, they want peace. If the Turkish state has a project for a solution, the Kurdish people are ready for it. This message must be clearly understood and accepted by all parties.

We are once again extending the hand of peace before the situation in the Middle East and the world worsens. Everyone must realise that our demand for peace is for a solution. For a century, the occupying states have wanted to leave the Kurdish question unresolved, but the Kurdish people do not accept this. You are demonstrating the existence of this people in all areas with great will and determination.

We call on all parties and institutions to strengthen the hand of Mr Öcalan. This is both the will of this people and yours. We call out to everyone who hears our voice. Let us raise our voices in the political, diplomatic and resistance fields. Now is the time for a solution. Let us fight together for peace and a solution.

Zübeyde Zümrüt: In this square, we have become one voice. Thousands of greetings to the resistance fighters in the mountains, to the youth, to the women, to all those who support this struggle with their stances, slogans and participation. Let the world see that thousands of people here are giving a message to the international powers with one voice: ‘My will is imprisoned in İmralı. We will be in the squares and fields until his physical freedom is realised.

We appeal to the CPT and the Council of Europe. Listen to these masses. Hear what the Kurdish people and the Kurds in Europe are saying! The message is the stance of the Kurdish people. The Kurdish people say clearly and unambiguously: ‘If there is to be a solution, it is only possible with Leader Öcalan. A solution is not possible without the Leader.’ Leader Öcalan has been imprisoned for 26 years. Our struggle will continue until the Kurdish people liberate him and the Kurdish problem is resolved. The freedom of Leader Öcalan is the freedom of the Middle East and the peoples. Long live Leader Öcalan!

Engin Sever: Those who have been involved in the conspiracy against Leader Öcalan for 26 years see this crowd. We are gathering around Leader Öcalan and shouting for his freedom. All our organisations in the 4 parts of Kurdistan and we in Europe as KCKD-E have once again announced: Leader Öcalan is our will and binds us all. November is the month of birth for the Kurdish people. Happy birthday! Our appeal to the German government: For 31 years you have been banning this people, their struggle and their values. But you have not achieved any results. The Kurdish people are united around your freedom movement and cry out for freedom. Revoke the 31-year ban, see this will. Long live Leader Öcalan!

Ayten Kaplan: Today we want to tell the German and European states that we are here and we want Öcalan's freedom... I want to say this to the masses: We are addressing the CPT, the forces of the international conspiracy and all European countries: We are all behind our Leader!

Our leader has been kept under heavy isolation for 26 years. European organisations are also responsible for this isolation. Germany has been banning the PKK for 30 years, trying to keep the Kurdish people under pressure with these bans targeting our identity and language. However, the Kurdish people want freedom and clearly show the address of the solution: Abdullah Öcalan is the interlocutor!

Ömer Öcalan: I brought Mr Öcalan's greetings. Mr Öcalan said to me ‘Wherever you go, convey my greetings’. He sent his special greetings to Kurds and their friends. There have been discussions on Mr Öcalan's message for days. Political parties, organisations and Kurdish institutions have said ‘the address is İmralı and we are behind this message’. They clearly stated that the Kurdish question should be solved by democratic means with Mr Öcalan.

Mr Öcalan stated that he could eliminate the conditions of conflict if the proper conditions arose. He said that he trusted his theoretical and political knowledge. We also trust him. As the Kurds, we are an oppressed people. Mr Öcalan is fighting for democracy and peace and his past experiences are in front of our eyes. The Oslo process and the İmralı process are examples. However, after these processes, unfortunately the Turkish state inflicted a lot of pain on our people.



With great morale, energy and power in prison, Mr Öcalan has expressed that the solution will be an honourable and democratic solution and that he is ready for it. We, as the people, must add strength to his power. This morale, energy and power is present in Mr Öcalan and it is our duty to support this power.

We must increase our struggle for democracy and peace. The will of our people is clear: We have to develop democratic politics. We must prevent the dirty war. We must strengthen our politics, unity and relations. The solution can be achieved not by writing with a red pen, but with sincerity, seriousness and interlocutors. Isolation cannot continue in an unlawful and illegal manner.

When I met Mr Öcalan, he said that Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysi Aktaş were in good condition. Mr Öcalan always gave us morale. Even though he has been in prison for years, he has never once reflected a negative situation to us. He gave us all strength and hope.

Our burden is heavy, but we can only succeed if we come together with faith and unity. Our attitude and stance is clear: İmralı is the interlocutor. We say again that we are ready for a solution. We will do people's politics, democratic politics. We say no to elitism and bureaucratic politics. We want direct democracy and this democracy represents Mr Öcalan.

We will increase our struggle with great morale and a clear stance. Success is ours!

Representative of the Internationalist Block: For decades and despite all the pressures, the Kurdish Freedom Movement has repeatedly demonstrated its will for a just peace. Countless times it has emphasised that it is open to a genuine process. The PKK has unilaterally laid down its arms nine times. Abdullah Öcalan, despite being kept in isolation for nearly 26 years, has long been seeking a solution based on dialogue and democracy. A solution that can unite all the peoples of the Middle East.

Turkey, on the other hand, talks about peace, but its actions show the opposite. At the end of October, the fascist Turkish state further escalated its war against the Kurdish community in north-eastern Syria and Bashur (Southern Kurdistan). By bombing people and civilian infrastructure, it tried to completely destroy the basic right to life.

Two weeks ago, the Turkish state appointed trustees to three Kurdish municipalities. Kurdish society and especially the youth are resolutely resisting this undemocratic coup. The state responds with bans on press conferences, violence, repression and torture.

Turkey's peace proposals are nothing but hypocrisy. How can there be a peace in which young people are tortured, people are arrested and civilian villages are bombed? We want just peace. Öcalan can pave the way for this peace and ending his isolation is key to this. We therefore demand the physical freedom of Öcalan and a peaceful solution for all parts of Kurdistan.

The movement around Öcalan shows that the struggle against war and capitalism is possible even today. This movement proves that even a powerful NATO army cannot break the resistance of the peoples.

Our task as the German left is to fight against German imperialism and its war industry. It is to expose the interests of the German state and to make it clear that Germany has supported Turkey's genocidal policy with arms exports for decades.

Large companies such as Thyssen-Krupp, Airbus and Rheinmetall are directly profiting from the occupation of Kurdistan. Just last Wednesday, a deal worth 4 billion Euros for fighter jets was approved. Exactly 4 billion Euros!

However, the German state not only stands to gain economically. It also wants to secure important trade routes through these arms deals. German imperialism needs a brotherhood of arms with Turkey for its claims to power in the world.

Their interest in the repression of peoples is clearly visible in the latest deportation agreements with Erdoğan. Because it is the politically active Kurds who are to be deported en masse to Turkey. The German government is handing them over to the Turkish state. Our response is resistance in every country.

If here in Germany, as a leftist movement, we take to the streets against fascism and criticise racist immigration policies and German imperialism, while at the same time the youth of North Kurdistan resist tirelessly and fight with guerrilla weapons in the free mountains of Kurdistan, then we resist together against the same enemy.

We can be in different parts of the world, whether in Germany, Sudan, Palestine or Kurdistan. But in the end, as democratic forces, we are fighting against a common enemy. We fight together against all forms of oppression, militarism and state violence, but above all for life, liberty and a just peace!

We see in the Middle East - from the mountains to Kobanê – that the resistance continues.

Down with fascism, down with imperialism!

Long live the social revolution!

Long live the guerrilla resistance!

Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan!

Long live international solidarity!

Sajanthan Kethiswaran on behalf of the Tamil Freedom Movement: Dear friends and comrades. We are very happy and proud to be here today to demand the freedom of a great visionary, revolutionary, guerrilla, politician and philosopher. We are talking about the founder of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan or Leader Apo.

Even the name of Abdullah Öcalan strikes fear in the rulers of the imperialist states. That is why they are trying to ban even the mention of his name. But we do not succumb to this, on the contrary, together with you we demand the freedom of this great man immediately; he has been unjustly imprisoned in Turkish prisons for nearly 26 years.

We have gathered here today to demand his freedom. In many places the Tamil Freedom movement is also taking part in this struggle. Your struggle is our struggle.

Today, at a historic moment when many peoples are fighting for their freedom, Abdullah Öcalan is an important key figure. Although the Turkish regime and its western allies deny it, the key to a just peace is in Imrali. On the other hand, the Turkish state is trying to exterminate the Kurdish people, launching air strikes and killing recklessly.

The German state supports this policy by criminalising the Kurdish people with 129b thought crimes, stigmatising us all as terrorists and making society fear us. But we are the ones who raise the banner of social progress and humanism. The politically conscious people of Tamil Eelam and its diaspora stand with you.

This is our historical similarity, which we share with the Palestinian people and with many other peoples. Let us build the international unity of oppressed peoples to fight for the freedom of our prisoners and brutally expose the impunity of the executioners who torture in the name of imperialism. Together we can achieve many things that we cannot yet see today, but every day we take one step forward. Victory is ours, it is only a matter of time.

We demand together with you: Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan! Freedom of all political prisoners in Kurdistan, Tamil Eelam and all over the world! The right of all peoples and all people to self-determination! Against fascism and imperialism! For a solidary world of plurality and diversity!

Demonstration in Cologne starts

Thousands of people are marching in Cologne demanding freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question. The participants call for the resumption of a dialogue process.


ANF
COLOGNE
Saturday, 16 November 2024,

The demonstration in Cologne under the slogan ‘Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question’ has started. The event marks an important milestone in the international campaign ‘Freedom for Öcalan - A Political Solution to the Kurdish Question’, which was launched in October 2023 and recently joined by 69 Nobel Prize winners worldwide. Thousands of people from all over Germany and neighbouring countries have come to Cologne for the event and are marching from the Deutzer Werft through the city.

The demonstration is organised by KON-MED (Confederation of Kurdish Communities in Germany), the largest Kurdish umbrella organisation in Germany. Numerous organisations, parties and civil society structures have called for the demonstration. The participants are making an urgent appeal for the release of Abdullah Öcalan and the resumption of a dialogue process to resolve the decades-long conflict in Kurdistan through peace negotiations.



A joint appeal entitled ‘For a political solution to the Kurdish question – For a just peace: Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan now!’ stated: “The isolation of Abdullah Öcalan, who has been imprisoned on the prison island of Imrali for almost 26 years, is emblematic of political and social oppression in Turkey. An end to the isolation and the release of Abdullah Öcalan are crucial to the beginning of a just peace process. He remains the central figure for a dialogue on equal terms.”

The German Solidarity Network of the campaign for the release of Öcalan stated the following in a message about the demonstration: “The recent visit of the DEM member of parliament Ömer Öcalan to his uncle on Imrali, as well as signals from the Turkish government and nationalist parties, raise hopes for an end to the isolation and the policy of violence. At the same time, the suppression of human rights and democratic opposition in Turkey continues, while the war in Kurdistan, especially in Southern Kurdistan (Northern Iraq) and Rojava (Northern Syria), is causing immense suffering.”

The organisers are calling on people to support the demonstration in Cologne and to join together in sending a powerful signal for peace, justice and democracy. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the rally. The first groups from Germany and across Europe began arriving in the early hours of the morning. Participants are arriving in numerous buses from France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. According to the organisers, 140 buses have been rented from across Germany alone.

Ömer Öcalan arrives in Cologne and calls for participation in today's march

DEM MP Ömer Öcalan arrived in Cologne on Friday night and called for participation in the march that will take place today in the city to demand freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question.


ANF
COLOGNE
Saturday, 16 November 2024,

Ömer Öcalan, MP for the Party for Democracy and Equality (DEM Party), arrived in Cologne on Friday night. He called for participation in the march to be held today in the city to demand freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question.

"I am also here in Cologne. – he said - We will send a message to the whole world from here. This strong message must also reach the island of Imrali."


The Kurdish politician, whose uncle Abdullah Öcalan has been held in total isolation in the prison island of Imrali for over 25 years, said: "The Kurds are an innocent people who are fighting for peace. We are committed to a dignified peace and a political solution." The DEM Party MP appealed to the Kurds living in Europe and all people in solidarity to take part in the demonstration in Cologne and to contribute to the success of the event.

Visit to Abdullah Öcalan

Ömer Öcalan visited Abdullah Öcalan on 23 October in Imrali. He was able to speak to the Kurdish people’s leader for around an hour and a half. Before that visit, it was unclear for years what was going on the island. The last visit to the Kurdish people’s leader took place on 3 March 2020, and in March 2021 he had a short telephone conversation with his brother Mehmet Öcalan.

As Ömer Öcalan announced the day after his visit, Abdullah Öcalan was in good health and sent greetings to everyone. He assessed the general political developments and asked that the following message be conveyed on to the public: "Isolation continues. If the conditions are provided, I have the theoretical and practical strength to move this phase from an environment of conflict and violence to a legal and political environment."

Demonstration in Cologne

Dozens of Kurdish associations and numerous internationalist and democratic organizations have called for participation in the demonstration that will take place today in Cologne. The meeting time is at eleven o'clock at the Deutzer Werft, and, then led by a women's bloc, the march is scheduled to start at 12.30 p.m. Participants from Germany and other European countries are expected. Buses will travel to Cologne from all over Germany. The demonstration will go over the Severinsbrücke on the banks of the Rhine and past Heumarkt back over the Deutzer Brücke to the meeting point.

First group of participants arrives in Cologne

The first participants in the demonstration for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question arrived at the Deutzer Werft, in Cologne at dawn.


ANF
COLOGNE
Saturday, 16 November 2024,

The demonstration for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and a political solution to the Kurdish question will begin in Cologne in a few hours.

The first demonstrators arrived at the Deutzer Werft early in the morning. On the way to the opening rally, they chanted slogans and sung. They danced the Kurdish govend in front of the large stage still in the dark.


Dozens of Kurdish associations and numerous internationalist and democratic organizations have called for the demonstration. Participants in their thousands are expected from Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. Around 140 buses have been rented for a joint journey from Germany.

One of the invited speakers is the DEM MP Ömer Öcalan, who was able to visit his uncle Abdullah Öcalan on 23 October in the Turkish island prison Imrali after years of no contact.

YJA Star guerrillas: The PKK is a first in Kurdish history

The PKK was founded on 27 November 1978. It was a historic moment for the Kurdish people, and today it is also an important day for the peoples of the world, say guerrillas from the Free Women's Troops (YJA Star).


STÊRK ANDOK-DİLARA NURHAQ
BEHDINAN
Saturday, 16 November 2024

Roza Serhed and Rahşan Baran, guerrillas of the Free Women’s Troops (YJA Star), spoke to ANF about the founding of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on 27 November 1978 in the village of Fis in Amed (tr. Diyarbakir) province.

Guerrilla fighter Roza Serhed said that 27 November is an important day for the Kurdish people: “It is important to remember this moment, the time when the founding of the PKK was decided. The date must be written in golden letters in history books. It cannot be described in a few sentences, but for the Kurdish people it was a historic moment. 27 November represents the PKK's perspective on the history of Kurdistan and the history of women. Today is also an important day for the peoples of the world. It was a novelty in Kurdish history. Rêber Apo [Leader Abdullah Öcalan] showed the Kurdish people their reality. The PKK movement has produced something new for our people as well as for people worldwide. It has initiated developments for the values of humanity and uncovered truths about women, peoples, the Middle East and the world that have been hidden for centuries. Rêber Apo has created immeasurable wealth. The PKK was founded as a movement of revenge and comradeship after the assassination of Haki Karer. The whole world knows that the party is a movement of revenge for the Kurdish people and their martyrs. Before, the Kurdish people were unknown; the world didn't even know their name. Today everyone knows about this people and their struggle. I congratulate everyone on this day.”

Rahşan Baran paid tribute to the guerrilla fighters Asya Ali and Rojger Hêlîn, who carried out a self-sacrificial action against an arms company in Ankara on 23 October: “I commemorate them with great respect. The PKK has not only fought for the Kurdish people and achieved great things. It has also had a significant influence on women and peoples around the world. This effect should not only be seen by people worldwide, we ourselves must also recognise it. This applies in particular to the people of Southern Kurdistan (Northern Iraq). They should understand what the PKK has fought for and rise up against the current occupation operation. The Turkish state will give our people nothing. The expansion of the occupation means annihilation and massacre. As women who resist in the mountains, we fight against a dirty mentality. We owe this to our people.”

Sozdar Avesta: We stand behind President Öcalan’s decision and the process he is developing

In this in-depth interview, Sozdar Avesta, member of the Presidential Council of the KCK, discusses, among other things, the importance of the greetings of the people's leader Abdullah Ocalan in the current phase, talks about the oppression of women 


ANF
BEHDINAN
Saturday, 9 November 2024, 07:50

In this in-depth interview, Sozdar Avesta, member of the Presidential Council of the KCK, discusses, among other things, the importance of the greetings of the people's leader Abdullah Ocalan in the current phase.

For 26 years, the Kurdish people's leader, Abdullah Öcalan, has been raising a great resistance against the system of denial and annihilation under the harsh conditions in Imrali. As is well known, there was no sign of life from him for 44 months. Most recently, on October 23rd, Ömer Öcalan, MP from Riha (tr. Urfa), was allowed to hold a meeting with Rêber Apo. How do you evaluate both Rêber Apo’s message and the ongoing isolation?

After 44 months, for the first time again, we heard from Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] in the framework of a meeting with his family, and he sent us his greetings. First of all, as his comrades and both on behalf of our movement and on behalf of women, with great love and respect, we received Rêber Apo’s greetings, and we also greet Rêber Apo’s resistance and stance with respect and love.

First of all, it must be emphasized that this meeting was Rêber Apo’s right. The family, the lawyers, as well as human rights and other international non-governmental organizations, must be allowed to meet him. This is Rêber Apo’s legal right. But of course it is known that Rêber Apo is no ordinary prisoner. The way he was abducted is well known. An international conspiracy took place, at the end of which he was handed over to the Turkish state. Rêber Apo is being held hostage – this became clear once through the last meeting. Because his right to hold meetings is being exploited as a bargaining chip. They want to use this meeting as blackmail politics against our people, our movement, and our leadership.

Rêber Apo has been in Imrali for 26 years and has been resisting relentlessly, particularly in the past 44 months. At the same time, our people have been resisting continuously under the leadership of women and youth; thousands of prisoners are struggling, and our movement has given thousands of martyrs to break the isolation and ensure the physical freedom, health, and safety of Rêber Apo. The recent meeting is a result of this struggle.

Before the meeting, the fascist Erdogan-Bahceli government had started playing new games. Bahceli had spoken several times in parliament and had tried to create a discourse in public opinion about a possible new solution process. He even said that Rêber Apo should come to the parliament and speak there. So before the meeting, they wanted to create an expectation that there was something new. The message Rêber Apo conveyed through Ömer Öcalan, both MP of Riha and nephew of Rêber Apo, was: “The isolation continues.” and “I have the theoretical and practical power to move this process from the grounds of conflict and violence to the legal and political grounds if the conditions arise.”

This stance and attitude of Rêber Apo made the governments mask fall. They say many things but do not think of implementing them in practice. Again, they thought of playing such a game to break the effect of the global campaign for Rêber Apo’s physical freedom, to create some expectations in society, but not to actually do anything. Rêber Apo has shown his stance and emphasized that if they have a sincere will, he is ready and has the strength to play his role. Immediately following this statement by Rêber Apo, the co-presidency of the KCK Executive Council, and later other comrades also issued statements on behalf of the movement, underlining that we stand behind Rêber Apo’s decision and the process he is developing. They wanted to create a contradiction between the PKK, Rêber Apo, and KCK, but they didn’t succeed in it. Immediately afterwards, they have again given Rêber Apo a three-month visiting ban. In fact, this means that their words are lies, that they are not ready for a true solution process, and that they will insist on the politics of denial and destruction against the Kurdish people.

They continue their concept unabated and focus on Rêber Apo. Yesterday, Rêber Apo emphasized that he was ready to work out a joint solution, and today he is being given a disciplinary punishment. They are not ready for such a process. That was to be expected, because what we see are the intensifying attacks against the Medya Defense Zones, the continued genocidal policies in the political sphere, and the constantly growing extent of attacks against the Kurdish people and the whole of Kurdistan. This government does not have the mentality to solve the Kurdish question. It is a government that is based on enmity against the Kurds. Their lies, their dirty aims, and their true faces were once again revealed. The fact that we received news from Rêber Apo and received his greeting is the result of a great struggle and resistance. The greeting of Rêber Apo gave us strength; we received it with respect and love, and we are making this greeting the basis of a great struggle to break the isolation. It is required to spread the struggle to all areas more and massify the resistance. Only resistance can ensure Rêber Apo’s physical freedom; only struggle can guarantee his safety and health. On this basis, the struggle must be strengthened and grown.

Rêber Apo’s resistance in Imrali is the basis of the struggle of the Kurdish people and the guerrillas. The guerrillas are becoming more and more successful every day in the ongoing war in the Medya Defense Areas. The latest sacrificial action by comrade Asya and Rojger showed that the guerrillas of the democratic modernity can overcome any obstacles and reach its goal wherever it may be.

In this context, I would like to commemorate with respect and gratitude the honorable heroes of Kurdistan, comrade Asya Ali and Rojger Helin, who followed the tradition and path of our commander, the goddess of freedom, comrade Zilan. I bow with respect in the face of their great will and courageous stance. Also on this occasion, I respectfully commemorate all martyrs of November by commemorating the martyred commanders of our special forces, comrade Delal Amed, Reshit Serdar, and Shilan Kobane.

What message should be taken from the war waged by the guerrilla? Both the stage reached by the guerrilla resistance and the action carried out by our two comrades showed everyone the truth. The freedom movement is waging a struggle along the lines of Rêber Apo. The freedom guerrilla is the guerrilla of all Kurdistan and the guerrilla in defense of Rêber Apo. In particular, the ‘Battalion of the Immortals’, of which comrade Asya and Roger were a part, was founded by those who defend Rêber Apo against any false approach, who fight against the fascist mentality behind the isolation and prevent the isolation from becoming a bargaining chip against the peoples of Kurdistan. In this course, our comrades carried out an action against the center in Ankara, where all the materials used in the genocidal war are produced. It was an action with a clear target. The action chosen by these comrades was aimed at a military target. It was carried out in a sacrificial manner and showed what stage the guerrilla struggle has reached.

The letters that the two comrades wrote to become part of the Battalion of the Immortals have been circulating in public for several days. These letters are a manifesto for a free life. The struggle of comrade Asya and Rojger must be understood and analyzed correctly. It should not be glossed over by saying that it was just one action. Before that, in 2022, comrades Sara and Ruken carried out their action in Mersin. Again in 2023, comrades Erdal and Rojhat carried out their action in Ankara. Now, in 2024, the level of this action has been raised to an even higher level, and a target that was considered unattainable has been hit. Therefore, everyone, especially the enemies of the Kurdish people, should be careful in their calculations.

The action of comrades Asya and Rojger took place close to the meeting with Rêber Apo. Our movement had already made a statement that the comrades formed an autonomous unit, determining their targets and the way and time of their action themselves. Neither did our movement know about the meeting with Rêber Apo nor when the comrades would take action. No one knew of the meeting until it was announced publicly.

The action has torn the masks off the faces of many who have recently tried to hide behind deceiving statements. Therefore, this action was an appropriate and timely action. It was also not an action against civilians. It took place according to the rules of war. Kurdish people are being massacred every day with the weapons made in this center. For example, just the other day, families were massacred in Shehba with the weapons produced there. Again, there are the atrocities that were committed by the enemy in Cizir Botan (tr. Cizre), Hezex (tr. Idil), Nisebin (tr. Nusaybin), and Sur in 2015 and 2016, that comrade Rojger described in his letter. Comrade Asya and Rojger showed what it means to struggle for and live a free life. They showed when, where, and what kind of stance to take and what kind of deep love is therefore needed. As long as this genocidal politics, these massacres, and attacks against the Kurdish people continue, no one will be able to stop the Battalion of the Immortals. Not getting any news from Rêber Apo in over 44 months, of course, leads the freedom guerrillas to take action against it. Our comrades have stated everything about their actions in their letters. They should be read, and everybody should take a stance according to them.

There has been great continuing resistance of the guerrillas this year. The resistance will continue with all kinds of actions. There is a relentless struggle and great resistance in the areas of northern Kurdistan, Dersim (tr. Tunceli), Serhat, Bagok, Botan, Amed (tr. Diyarbakir), and the Medya Defense Zones. On this occasion, I greet the Kurdistan freedom guerrillas with respect and dignity and send my love. Most recently, our comrade Memed Cudi, commander in the Merdin (tr. Mardin) area, martyred. I remember comrade Memed Cudi with respect and gratitude. He put up a great resistance and was involved in crucial works before he gave his life in combat.

The few successes they achieve against the guerrillas are only due to betrayal. In northern Kurdistan, the village guards, gangs, mercenaries, and those who collaborate with the enemy play a crucial role in the strategy of the enemy. In the Medya Defense Zones, it is the Barzani family clan and its KDP that, through their treason, pave the way for the Turkish state. They guide the Turkish state and build roads to encircle the guerrillas. The Turkish state cannot get results against the freedom struggle and therefore attacks civilian areas. Using the action in Ankara as a pretext, they attacked North and East Syria and Shengal (Sinjar). In North and East Syria, 18 people were martyred, dozens were wounded, and 6 people were martyred in Shengal. I commemorate all the martyrs with respect and express my condolences to the families of the martyrs. We share their pain. I have great respect for their stance against the enemy. All the families of the martyrs stood firm against the enemy’s attacks. This is of great significance. In fact, these attacks also show the Iraqi government’s disrespect towards the people of Shengal. Even under Saddam, this community was not surrendered to the enemy in such an open way. Instead of doing its duty towards the very people who have been subjected to so many fermans and were directly persecuted by the mercenaries and gangs of ISIS, the Iraqi government made agreements with the Turkish state. It did not take a stand against the attacks on the Êzidî (Yazidi) community and still cooperates with the Turkish state for its own interests. This is a disgrace for Iraq. This must be underlined.

Both in Shengal and in North and East Syria, our people must organize against these attacks, strengthen their self-defense, and increase their defense mechanisms. Again, our people must gather around their self-defense forces. The guerrilla is doing its part, and our people must fulfill their role within the framework of the revolutionary people’s war. Revolution is a joint effort. The guerrillas a recarrying out actions in many areas from Zap, over Xakurke, Dersim, and Merdin, until Ankara, and the people should both take precautions against genocidal attacks everywhere and unite around the guerrillas. In this way, the struggle will succeed. The guerrillas have raised the bar of the struggle through comrades Asya and Rojger. They have shown what kind of stance should be taken.

Young Yazidi man martyred in Turkish airstrike in Shengal

Shengal Autonomous Administration announced that a young man named Kerim Hecî Şero was martyred in today’s airstrike by the Turkish state.


ANF
SHENGAL
Sunday, 10 November 2024, 17:33

An unmanned aerial combat vehicle (UCAV) targeted a car in the Yazidi town of Shengal (Sinjar) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq earlier today.

The driver of the car lost his life as a result of the attack while on his way to the Serdesht region.

The victim was identified as Kerim Hecî Şero, a young Yazidi man from the Zendini tribe. He came from the Tilizêr district and lived in the Sinûnê sub-district of Shengal.

The young man’s body was delivered from Sinûnê Hospital to Mosul Forensic Medicine for post-mortem examination.

Turkish attacks on Shengal ongoing since 2017

Under the pretext of "fighting the PKK", Turkish warplanes and drones have repeatedly carried out airstrikes on Shengal since 2017. The specific targets are mostly institutions that were founded in the wake of the ISIS genocide - such as the administrative body "Shengal Democratic Autonomous Council" (MXDŞ) or the self-defence units YBŞ and YJŞ. The victims are mainly people from the civilian population - often survivors of the 2014 genocide.

In a wave of attacks by warplanes and UCAVs, the Turkish state bombed a total of 16 points in Shengal on 24-25 October, killing six fighters of the Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ).

On 8 July, the vehicle of journalists who went to Til Qeseb town of Shengal to conduct interviews on the 10th anniversary of the 3 August 2014 genocide was attacked in the centre of Shengal on their way back. Çira TV reporter Medya Hasan Kemal, Çira FM reporter Murat Mirza Ibrahim and vehicle driver Xelef Xidir, along with 3 other people who were at the scene, were injured in the attack.

Another Turkish aerial attack on 8 March killed Mecdel Hesen Xelef, a commander of Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ) and survivor of the ISIS genocide in 2014. The drone bombed a checkpoint near Til Êzêr where he was working. He was 32 years old and left behind a wife and son.

A few days earlier, civilian Sadun Mirza Ali had been killed by a Turkish drone in Shengal. The man was the father of three children and worked as a driver for the autonomous administration's committee for the martyrs. At the end of December, five workers from Rojava were killed in a drone attack in Shengal.

Attacks in violation of international law on an almost daily basis

The Yazidi settlement area Shengal in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is the last contiguous settlement area of the Yazidi community. Thousands of Yazidis were murdered and thousands of women and children were taken prisoner in the 3 August 2014 onslaught on Shengal by ISIS militants. While ISIS gangs began murdering Yazidis in Shengal, the Peshmerga left, leaving the Yazidis behind, unprotected. The guerrillas of HPG (People’s Defense Forces) and YJA Star (Free Women’s Troops) and fighters of the YPG (People’s Defense Units) and YPJ (Women’s Defense Units) came to the Yazidi people's aid in the face of ISIS aggression. Thanks to a months-long selfless struggle, the city was liberated on 13 November 2015. After the liberation of the city, the HPG and YPG/YPJ subsequently withdrew in 2017. People who returned to their land after Shengal's independence reformed, established defensive units and built their institutions.

The Turkish state, which has been frustrated by the liberation of Shengal and the military and political organization of the Yazidi community after ISIS' genocidal attack in 2014, has been attacking Shengal for seven years. Attacks by Turkey that violate international law have been routine in southern Kurdistan for years. The Turkish air force bombs the territory of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq on an almost daily basis, especially where guerrillas are suspected. However, civilian settlement areas are also regularly attacked by the Turkish army, including the Yazidi settlement area of Shengal and the Maxmur refugee camp. With its aerial terror, Ankara is pursuing a targeted policy of displacement - in particular by deliberately destroying civilian infrastructure.

UK unions: Öcalan's message is a call for dialogue

The Freedom for Öcalan UK Trade Union Campaign said it stands in solidarity with the Kurdish people and demands an end to Turkey’s attack on local democracy.


ANF
NEWS DESK
Saturday, 9 November 2024

The Freedom for Öcalan UK Trade Union Campaign issued a statement in solidarity with the Kurdish people at a time when they once again have to fight against the appointment of trustees to the municipalities democratically and legally won by the DEM Party.

The UK trade unions said in their statement that they "have a long-standing history of standing in solidarity with oppressed peoples worldwide and advocating for justice. For years, the movement has been actively involved in the Freedom for Öcalan campaign, launched in 2016 by UNITE and GMB, and now supported by 14 major trade unions and the Trade Unions Congress (TUC). Through this campaign, we have consistently called for the release of Abdullah Öcalan and for a peaceful, democratic resolution to the Kurdish issue."

The statement added: "The Turkish government continues a systematic policy of repression on Kurdish communities and their democratic institutions. Recent actions, including the forced removal of elected Kurdish mayors and the imposition of trustees, are blatant attempts to suppress democratic rights and undermine local governance.

In the past week, the Turkish government replaced elected mayors in Mardin, Batman, and Halfeti with state-appointed trustees. These actions are part of a broader pattern of systematically disregarding local democracy and imposing authoritarian control. The removal of these officials — many elected with overwhelming support — highlights Turkey's continued efforts to repress the Kurdish political movement."

The statement continued: "While Turkish leaders, including President Erdoğan and his ally Devlet Bahçeli, have recently suggested a potential openness to dialogue to resolve the Kurdish issue, these overtures are contradicted by Turkish military operations in Rojava (Northern Syria), which continue to target innocent civilians and the broader infrastructure network providing resources to the local peoples. Turkish military activities reveal a stark contradiction between the state’s rhetorical commitment to peace and its actions, which undermine any hopes for genuine dialogue or a peaceful resolution.

However, one recent development offers a glimmer of hope. On 23 October, Abdullah Öcalan's nephew, Ömer Öcalan, visited him in prison — the first contact in years. During the visit, Öcalan delivered a clear message of readiness for dialogue, emphasising his commitment to resolving the Kurdish issue through legal and political frameworks. This message must not be ignored: Öcalan has consistently advocated for a peaceful resolution within Turkey's framework and is ready to play a key role in any such process."

The trade unions said that "Öcalan's message is a call for reason and dialogue, one that should be heeded by both Turkey and the international community. His insistence on a solution based on legal and political frameworks, rather than violence and military repression, offers hope to millions of Kurds in Turkey and beyond. Despite years of isolation, Öcalan remains committed to a peaceful resolution of the Kurdish issue," and added that "the Turkish government must demonstrate its commitment to dialogue by halting military aggression, ceasing the removal of elected officials, and respecting the democratic rights of the Kurdish people. The international community, including the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United Nations, must support efforts to bring about a peaceful, democratic solution to the Kurdish issue in Turkey."

The Freedom for Ocalan UK Trade Union Campaign, demanded: "The immediate reinstatement of elected Kurdish mayors in Mardin, Batman, Halfeti, and other affected municipalities, and an end to the imposition of trustees that bypass the democratic will of the people; The immediate release of Abdullah Öcalan from isolation, allowing him to play a central role in any future peace process and contribute to negotiations to resolve the Kurdish issue; A cessation of Turkey’s military operations in Rojava and a halt to the violence against Kurdish-led forces and civilian populations in Syria; Respect for the democratic rights of the Kurdish people, both in Turkey and the broader region, including the right to elect their representatives and engage in peaceful political activities without fear of arrest or repression; International pressure on Turkey to engage in meaningful dialogue with Kurdish representatives and other political groups to find a peaceful, democratic, and sustainable solution to the Kurdish question."

PACE Rapporteur: I will apply for a meeting with Abdullah Öcalan

PACE Rapporteur Stefan Schennach, who visited Turkey last June, announced that he would apply for a meeting with Abdullah Öcalan during his second visit in January.


ANF
NEWS DESK
Sunday, 10 November 2024

Stefan Schennach, one of the co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Turkey’s obligations and commitments, announced his report on prisons in Turkey. The report on his visits to prisons between 11-14 June included numerous violations of rights. Schennach also drew attention to the isolation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan who is held in incommunicado detention in the İmralı Island Prison in Turkey.

Speaking to the Mesopotamia Agency, Schennach stated that isolation is a form of torture against human rights, adding, “I will apply to visit Abdullah Öcalan.” The PACE Rapporteur will pay another visit to Turkey in January.

Schennach also drew attention to the Turkish government’s usurpation of municipalities and said, “Elected mayors are elected mayors. The government has to accept democracy.”

Noting that Turkey does not implement the judgements of the ECtHR, Schennach stated that the initiatives for the implementation of these judgements will continue. He stated that the Council of Ministers also insisted on the implementation of the judgements.

Koldo Saenz: Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan is possible, let's expand the struggle!

LAB International Relations Secretary Koldo Saenz De Benito underlined the impact of the global freedom campaign, and said: “Developments have shown us that Öcalan’s physical freedom is possible. We should expand the struggle."


SERKAN DEMİREL
NEWS DESK
Sunday, 10 November 2024


DEM Party Urfa MP Ömer Öcalan met with the Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan in Imrali on 23 October.

Öcalan told his nephew and DEM Party MP: "Isolation continues. If conditions are right, I have the theoretical and practical power to move this process from a ground of conflict and violence to a legal and political ground."

Koldo Saenz De Benito, Secretary of International Relations of the Basque Country Labour Union (LAB), one of the supporters of the global campaign "Freedom for Öcalan, Political Solution to the Kurdish Question", spoke to ANF about the meeting in Imrali as well as the next steps that the international campaign could take.

The LAB Trade Union recently announced its support for the global campaign advocating for the freedom of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. After 43 months of isolation, Öcalan was recently able to meet his nephew, Ömer Öcalan. How do you interpret the significance of this visit after such a prolonged period of isolation? What impact do you believe this could have on Öcalan himself, his supporters, and the broader Kurdish community?

I think that in this question there are different parameters for analyzing an event that has had a very great relevance.

On the one hand, there is the political fact that the Turkish authorities allowed the family to visit him after 43 months of total isolation, without anyone having any information about his situation and without even knowing whether he was alive. We must surely say that the campaign has achieved enough strength to force Turkey to take this step, and we should congratulate ourselves for that, because the efforts of those of us who have demanded Abdullah Öcalan's freedom produced results.

On the other hand, there is the human dimension of a person in an extreme situation who, after such a long period of time, has had the opportunity to see a loved one, and also, of course, for the Kurdish community who have seen that Öcalan is alive and well and that his political struggle has produced some results.

For those of us who know at first hand the experiences of political prisoners, we know the human and political importance for the prisoner of contact with his family, friends and community. Isolation tries to break all that, trying to break the prisoner by taking away what is most important in his life, which is family, friends, community and people. Undoubtedly, the visit by his nephew was an unimaginable personal joy and a reinforcement of his political convictions.

In his recent message to the public, Abdullah Öcalan emphasized that isolation conditions persist but expressed that, given the opportunity, he has both the theoretical and practical means to shift the process from a cycle of conflict and violence to a political and legal framework. How do you interpret Öcalan’s message? What could this shift mean for the Kurdish issue and for peace efforts in the region?

My interpretation is that his message goes in the direction already expressed above. I think he is trying to create the political conditions to move from a scenario of violence and war to a democratic scenario to seek a complete political and democratic resolution to the Kurdish issue. Saving distances, it is similar to the steps taken by the Basque pro-independence Left to seek a scenario of peace and democracy, taking ETA's armed violence out of the equation. I believe that Abudallah Öcalan is trying to move towards a democratic scenario, in which it will be only the Kurdish people who decide their political future in peace and democracy, and I also believe that there is nothing more democratic than that.

This reminds me of when the historic Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat addressed the United Nations, saying that he came with a rifle in one hand and an olive branch in the other hand. Drawing a parallel with that situation, from my humble position, I appeal to everyone not to let the olive branch fall.

Lately, the political climate in Turkey has seen renewed discussions about finding a political solution to the Kurdish issue. What are your thoughts on these discussions? Do you see them as a step forward, or do you believe more substantial actions are needed?

The mere fact that a discussion on a political resolution of the Kurdish question could be opened is positive, but unfortunately it is not enough. In my opinion, in order for such a process to reach a democratic scenario, there has to be a consensus between the parties in conflict, as well as the support and mediation of the international community. Peace in Kurdistan is a good thing for everyone, and although peace always has powerful enemies, it is necessary to convince the parties that peace is a win-win situation. That is why the international community cannot look the other way and has to explore political mechanisms with the aim of seeking peace with justice in Kurdistan, because that would undoubtedly be very good news for the region and the whole world.

In this sense, I believe that solidarity organisation must continue to push in this direction. We must continue to support the petition that Abdullah Öcalan has sent us, demanding that the international community does not waste this opportunity.

The global campaign for Öcalan’s freedom has undoubtedly played a significant role in facilitating this recent meeting after 43 months of silence. How important do you consider this campaign to be in the broader struggle for Öcalan’s release? Looking ahead, what further steps should be taken to ensure his freedom and support the larger Kurdish cause?

As I said at the beginning, I believe that the meeting that took place after 43 months of isolation would not have happened without the international pressure that we have exercised. There is no doubt that in order to move the positions of a power like Turkey it is necessary to accumulate a lot of strength. We achieved that and for that we have to be very happy. Unfortunately, however, nothing ended with this meeting, although I think something did start that day. I sincerely believe that on that day Turkey's impunity began to be broken and that this meeting was the beginning of a new phase in the struggle. That's why what happened should give us enough encouragement to continue believing that the freedom of Öcalan and Kurdistan is possible and achievable. This should be the challenge for the future, to continue to accumulate forces to press for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and for a scenario of negotiation and dialogue for a democratic resolution of the Kurdish issue.

Cemil Bayik: Health, security and free living conditions must be given to Öcalan

Cemil Bayik addressed the issue of how a solution to the Kurdish question can be achieved.


ANF
BEHDINAN
Sunday, 10 November 2024, 07:50

Cemil Bayik, co-president of the KCK Executive Council, comprehensively addressed the issue of how a solution to the Kurdish question can be achieved.

The isolation of peoples leader Abdullah Ocalan had been going on for 43 months. Just recently, a family meeting did take place. In this meeting, peoples leader Abdullah Ocalan pointed out that the isolation still continues. There has been great resistance against this isolation, led by the guerrillas, the Kurdish people, and their international friends. At what stage is the isolation and the resistance against it?

As you pointed out, there had been no meeting with Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] for almost 4 years. No one knew what his condition and health were like. Now that a meeting took place, we heard from Rêber Apo, and he sent his greetings. This greeting had a very good effect and made everybody very happy. Receiving greetings and news from Rêber Apo after such a long time, of course, created joy in our movement, our people, and our international friends. Before the meeting, rumors were spread about Rêber Apo’s health. They spread this in a conscious way. The Turkish state is conducting politics in Imrali. It is conducting a policy against the Kurdish people, and it does this first and foremost against Rêber Apo. The Turkish state is responsible for whatever happens in Imrali.

Rêber Apo has stated that the isolation still continues. Isolation has not only developed in recent years; the Imrali system has been a system based on isolation and genocide from the very beginning. And this system was not only developed by the Turkish; the ones who are responsible for the international conspiracy developed this system, and today the Turkish state is continuing it. As long as the Imrali system exists, the isolation will continue. When the Imrali system is abolished, the isolation will end. So, the question must be, how is this system to be abolished?

When they accept the Kurdish people as part of society and recognize their natural rights, then both the Imrali system and isolation can be abolished. MP Ömer Öcalan had a meeting with Rêber Apo, but under what conditions did this meeting take place? The meeting was held in an environment in which some circles spread bad rumors about Rêber Apo’s health condition. Both the struggle of the movement and that of the people, as well as that on an international-global level, have built up massive pressure on the Turkish state.

In addition to this, some developments are taking place in the Middle East. When all this came together, they were forced to give a meeting with Rêber Apo. However, even though the meeting took place, the isolation was not lifted. As Rêber Apo stated, the isolation continues. 'They want something from me; if they want me to play my role, then they should create the conditions for it. If the conditions are not created, how can I fulfill my role?' That is what he said. Directly after the meeting with Omer Öcalan, they gave Rêber Apo again a ‘disciplinary punishment’. This punishment is a disguise that they invented to cover for the continuation of the Imrali system and isolation. This is not only the mind of the Turkish state. Those who developed the conspiracy internationally and those who took part in it created this mind in the Turkish state. Because in the past, the Turkish state had put forward some excuses and explained that meetings could not take place. But this created big problems for the Turkish state. So the Turkish state was approached and explained it would not be possible like this. They had to back up their justifications and put them on a legal footing. That’s when they recommended using the ‘disciplinary punishment’ justification. This is how they maintain absolute isolation.

So they made some statements regarding the Kurdish question, and immediately afterward they sentenced Rêber Apo to this punishment. This shows that they have no intention of solving the Kurdish question. If they had any intention of solving it, they would not have given a new punishment to Rêber Apo. They didn’t just sentence him; at the same time, they attacked Rojava and are trying to appoint trustees to the municipalities in Turkey and northern Kurdistan. If their aim was a solution, they would not do such things. They are doing this because the Turkish state is currently in a crisis. Both the ongoing struggle and the developments in the Middle East are creating a crisis in the Turkish state.

They want to get out of it, but they are not clear about how to do so, giving statements without achieving anything. Our people and our international friends need to be aware of this. If the Turkish state was not in such great difficulty, it would not have created such an agenda. What we need to do is break the isolation and ensure the physical freedom of Rêber Apo. The physical freedom of Rêber Apo will lead to the solution of the Kurdish question. There is no other way.

There is going to be a rally in Cologne, Germany, on the 16th of this month for this purpose. That rally is important. A global campaign was developed, and through it, an agenda was created. This campaign has entered its second phase, and that is what the rally is based on. That is why everyone should participate in it. It should be a much bigger rally, not like the old rallies. Millions of people must attend the rallies; millions must march. Only this will ensure the physical freedom of Rêber Apo. Of course, what is being done is good, but it is insufficient.

The Turkish state is talking about Kurds, brotherhood, equality, and many other things because it is forced to do so. More pressure needs to be put on it. That’s why all our people, with their children, women, young and old, should participate in this rally. Kurds should attend this rally not only themselves but also with their friends. Turks, Europeans, socialists, democrats, anyone who wants to be friends with the Kurds should join this rally with them so that the rally will put pressure on the Turkish state and force it to approach the situation in the right way. The Kurdish question can only be solved with the right approach. Now is the time to get Rêber Apo out of Imrali. Everyone must struggle with this consciousness. This is what is asked of everyone.

Erdoğan first traveled to the United States to attend the meeting of the UN and then had a meeting with Bahceli. Later, Bahçeli shook hands with DEM MPs on the opening day of the parliament. What is the meaning of these statements? Is this a new process, a solution, or a project, or what should it be called? What are the factors or issues that have brought the Turkish state to this point? Is it the developments in the Middle East, is it the crisis in the world, or is it their own internal crisis?

No one can name the recent events at the moment. Because talking is one thing, practice is another. If talk and practice do not complement each other, no one can name what is happening. In speeches, everyone can be fooled, but in practice, no matter how much you want to deceive, you cannot succeed. You cannot hide the truth; it will come out. Everyone sees this. Erdoğan and Bahçeli's speeches are one thing, but their practices are quite the opposite. This situation creates a contradiction. What their real intentions are is also clear from their practices. They say that one should understand them on the basis of their speeches and not try to deal with their practice.

No one takes their speeches as a basis; everyone sees what happens in practice. And because of what happens in practice, no one believes their speeches. Therefore, no one can name what has happened recently. A plan is being carried out right now. These speeches and practices are happening within the framework of this plan.

The goal of the Turkish state is to liquidate the freedom movement, complete the Kurdish genocide, carry out neo-Ottoman politics, and strengthen its hegemony in the Middle East. In other words, it follows an imperial policy. That’s why they sent their forces to Libya; they wanted to achieve some results in the Mediterranean, the Caucasus, Syria, and Iraq. They took many steps in this sense. They spent whatever means Turkey had to achieve these goals. But no matter how hard they tried, they could not get the results they wanted. This politics is the cause of the political, economic, social, and cultural crisis in Turkey. They calculated that they would achieve their imperial goals with this politics. That is why they spent all their means.

When they failed to achieve their goals, these crises emerged and put Turkey in great distress. In addition, the so-called Greater Middle East Project is being carried out in the Middle East. It is clear who is running it: America, Britain, and Israel. The war in the Middle East is growing day by day. Changes are taking place in the region, and the Middle East will no longer be the same. Those who run the Greater Middle East Project have openly said that the maps will change. These developments also affect Turkey. The existing nation states are taking blow after blow, and new borders are about to be determined. Turkey is very afraid of this. It wanted everything in the Middle East to be the way it wanted it to be. Because it is a NATO member state and has relations with the EU, it has been getting power from this until now. With this power, it has been committing genocide against the Kurds and other peoples. It is losing this. Because now, even though it is a member of NATO, developments are taking place without the involvement of the Turkish state. It is now excluded from everything.

This danger of losing a lot is what puts the Turkish state in trouble. With the power it received from NATO and the EU, it was committing genocide against all peoples and developing its hegemony in the Middle East; now this is slipping away. And this scares the Turkish government, the capitalists, the army, the state, and the AKP. They had joined hands to become an imperial power in the Middle East, and they believed that they would succeed. But no matter what they did, they could not achieve their main goal.

They have suffered big blows and entered a major crisis. That’s why they are experiencing great fear. In order to cover up this, Erdoğan is talking about Israel being a danger to them, that it would try to invade Turkey in order to destroy it. However, there is no such thing. Everyone knows that Israel will never attack Turkey. Erdoğan makes such propaganda in order to deceive the public and lure them into his politics. He wants to cover up all the problems in Turkey with this rhetoric. There are very serious problems. The people are at the point of an explosion. That’s why he wants to divert everyone. 'Turkey is in danger,' they say. Turkey emerged from the Ottoman Empire under the circumstances of the time, and the republic was founded by force. Today they say that it was once the size of the Ottoman Empire, but the territory was divided up, and today, under the threat of Israel, it is in danger of losing what little it still has. They think that the people will forget their problems and say, 'If the Turkish state is in danger, then let’s protect our state'; this is what they are based on.

This is how they aim to get out of the crisis. Such a policy is being carried out. This policy won’t be successful. The reason why they talk about brotherhood, Islam, and unity and why they say, 'Historically, we have always been together; let’s stand against these dangers together again,' is because of this policy they are pursuing. Why didn’t they say such things in the past? A few months ago they were still saying they would eliminate the PKK and complete the genocide, and they did everything to achieve this. So, what happened to suddenly bring about such a change? The ongoing contradictions and the developments in the Middle East have put the Turkish state in a great crisis. They are afraid that if they don’t get help from the Kurds, they will get lost in the chaos. That is why they are referring to such rhetoric. Once again, they want to fool everyone. They are playing a game, and the games they play are revealed in their practices.

Peoples leader Abdullah Öcalan stated that he has “the theoretical and practical power to move this process from the grounds of conflict and violence to the legal and political grounds if the conditions arise.” As co-presidency of the KCK, you answered to this, that you stand behind him and that he is the interlocutor for the solution of the Kurdish question. But the Turkish state again does not accept him as an interlocutor and continued the isolation and, as you stated, imposed another three-month disciplinary punishment. What is the aim of the Turkish state in doing so?

What Rêber Apo says and what we say are not new things; we have been repeating these things over and over again for years. When Rêber Apo was still in the Mahsum Korkmaz Academy, the journalist Mehmet Ali Birand came and conducted an interview with him. Already at that time, Rêber Apo said that he was looking for an interlocutor to solve the Kurdish question. Until today, this has not changed. Rêber Apo clearly wants to solve the Kurdish question on a political and democratic basis. That is something our movement has also declared many times. Again, our people and our movement have said many times that Rêber Apo is our representative. That it is him who will solve the Kurdish question and negotiate in our name. This has been repeated thousands of times.

The Turkish state knows this very well. Who represents the Kurdish people? Who can solve the Kurdish question – not only the Kurdish question but also the questions of Turkey and the Middle East? Of course it is Rêber Apo. They are aware of this. But they are consciously making some deceiving speeches. In other words, they act as if they want to solve the situation, as if they are trying to do so but failing because they don’t know who they have to deal with. They are trying to say that the Kurds have no interlocutor.

They are very cunning. They are trying to say that the Kurds are not a nation, they are not organized, they are not disciplined, they have no strategy, they are a few tribes, they don’t understand anything, and that, accordingly, an ordered solution with them would be impossible. They are consciously developing these discussions to hide the truth. However, everything is in plain sight. Everyone knows that Rêber Apo represents these people. He has struggled for this for years; that is why he is in Imrali prison. That is why they are imposing absolute isolation on him. In this way, they want to confuse everyone, and underneath they want to realize their goals. When they celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey in Ahlat, the AKP, MHP, Huda-Par, and a few other party leaders raised their hands together and shared a picture. Then Huda-Par came and had a meeting with Barzani. Erdoğan went to the UN, and Bahceli made some speeches; all of these things complement each other. This shows what kind of plan they are carrying out.

During the Soviet era, socialist movements were strong in Turkey. At that time, state officials declared that if Turkey needed communism, they would bring it to Turkey. This shows the reality of the Turkish state. The Turkish state was never based on society and the people; it is based on itself. The state will do whatever is necessary; for them there is either the state or the people. This shows the logic of the state. Again, after Bahceli and Erdoğan made some statements, someone said, 'The Kurdish problem is not the same as it was before, and the solution will not be the same as it was before.' They are making these statements consciously. In other words, they are saying that they would solve the question in their own way. This is the meaning. For them, there is no PKK, no Rêber Apo, no DEM party, and no Kurds.

What does all this show? They want to create their own Kurds and, like this, show that they have solved the problem with their Kurds. They want to deceive everyone both in Turkey and in the international community in this way. That is why they make such statements. They want to dismember and neutralize whoever is against them so that everyone will be at their service. They are saying this openly. The calls they make are calls to surrender. 'From now on, you will be satisfied with whatever we decide to give you.' This is the essence of their calls. This is the logic of the Turkish state and the AKP-MHP. Whoever opposes this, they say, is a terrorist, a traitor. This is how they talk, and they carry out their practices on this basis.