PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan was taken out of Syria on October 9, 1998 with the collaboration of global powers.

 

The process of international conspiracy continued until Abdullah Öcalan was brought to Turkey on February 15, 1999.  After he was brought to Turkey, Abdullah Öcalan was held under isolation conditions in İmralı Type F High Security Prison. The isolation against Öcalan has continued uninterruptedly for 26 years. On March 25, 2021, he has not been heard from since his interrupted meeting with his brother Mehmet Öcalan. 

 

After the conspiracy, which Abdullah Öcalan described as a “NATO-Gladio operation”, “the beginning of the 3rd World War”, “the biggest conspiracy of the 21st century” and “the first step of intervention in the Middle East”, a great anger emerged. Kurds and their supporters, especially in Kurdistan and Turkey, as well as all over the world, turned every part of the world into a protest zone. Since the start of the conspiracy, more than 100 people have set their bodies on fire. Every October 9 and February 15, millions of people dressed in black and expressed their anger on the streets. 

 

This resistance of the Kurds and their supporters also ruined the calculations of the conspirators. The “extermination” of Abdullah Öcalan did not materialize. In his lawyer interview on February 10, 2010, Öcalan said that the conspiracy was thwarted by the resistance: “The resistance shown by our people nullified the conspiracy. That's why I express my gratitude to our people again. The aim of the conspiracy was my extermination. If this was realized, there would have been an environment of chaos and a bloody process. I tried to keep myself alive here with difficulty in order to frustrate the conspiracy. This is the essence of my 11-year stance against the conditions in İmralı.”

 

FIRST REACTION TO THE CONSPIRACY

 

The first reaction against the conspiracy was the “You cannot darken our sun” protests that started in prisons. Prisoners began to react against the conspiracy by setting their bodies on fire. The resistance in prisons then spread in waves. One of the protests was when Mehmet Halit Oral set his body on fire in prison on October 9, 1998. “The attacks against you and our people are attacks against humanity. My anger, hatred and revenge are great. With this action, I want to show my loyalty to you once again. They will see very well that in the slightest harm to you, our entire people will make the world a dungeon for them” he said.  

 

'YOU CANNOT DARKEN OUR SUN' PROTESTS

 

The “You Can't Darken Our Sun” protests became the first step of resistance against the conspiracy. At least 66 people were injured and 53 people lost their lives in the protests. Similar protests developed in the following processes. Here are the names of those who have put their bodies on fire since the start of the conspiracy: “Mehmet Halit Oral, Mehmet Gül, Bülent Bayram, Hasan İsa Hasan, Selamet Menteş, Aynur Artan (Rotinda), Mirze Sevimli, Berzan Öztürk (Murat), Mehmet Aydın, Erdal Çeçen, Kadri İlhan, Adnan Karataş, Emrullah Damlacı, Cemil Özalp, Yavuz Güzel, Hatice Falay, Taylan Özgür Kahraman, Kahraman Denli, Serpiş Polat, Murat Yeşilgöz, Yavuz Güzel, Hükmiye Seyhan (Ruken Beritan), Mahmut Yener, Nesrin Teke, Esen Aslan, Fatoş Sağlamgöz (Sema), Erdoğan Kahraman (Yekta), Serdar Arı, Aynur Yaşlı, Leyla Wali Hasan (Viyan Soran), Veysi Kaya, Elefteriya Fortulaki, Abu Müslüm Doğan, Mustafa Malçok, Evrim Demir, Fırat İzgin, Mehmet Şerif Sakalı, Mehmet Yalçın, Serdal Yektaş, Abdulkadir Atilla, Mahsun Özen, Hadika Doğru (Hêvîdar Serhed), Nazelin Korkut, Ümit Acar. Bubo Taş and Mehmet Akar”  

 

HUNGER STRIKERS 

 

During the hunger strike protests led by Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chair Leyla Güven, which started on November 8, 2018, many prisoners and people ended their lives in prison. In 2019, the names of those who ended their lives against isolation are as follows: “Zülküf Gezen, Uğur Şakar, Ayten Beçet, Zehra Sağlam, Medya Çınar, Yonca Akıcı, Siraç Yüksek and Mahsum Pamay.”

 

REACTION TO THE CONSPIRACY AT NEWROZ 

 

The first Newroz celebration after the conspiracy was marked by anger. During the 1999 Newroz, martial law was imposed in many cities. Despite this, people in Turkey and Kurdistan ignored the bans and protested against the conspiracy against Öcalan. In every March 21 celebration after the 2000s, anger against the conspiracy against Öcalan has been great. Alongside the conspiracy, Abdullah Öcalan's physical freedom was the main demand. 

 

CAMPAIGN BY PRISONERS 

 

On December 10, 2001, the campaign to “Claim and Defend the Leader” was launched in prisons. As part of the campaign, prisoners went on rotating hunger strikes and took actions such as not going to open visits and infirmary. Large marches were organized in Turkey and European cities in parallel to the prisoners' actions. The campaign continued until February 15, 2003. 

 

FIRST MESSAGE TO THE AUTHORITIES

 

In 2004, the “Freedom for Öcalan” campaign was launched. The Independent Youth Movement (BAGEH) led the campaign. Hundreds of thousands of signatures collected as part of the campaign were delivered to the Parliament. The petitions demanded that Öcalan be recognized as the “People's Leader”.

 

Between February 1 and May 1, 2004, committees were formed in every province and petitions were submitted saying, “Abdullah Öcalan is the leader of the Kurds. Peace can only develop with him. We are Öcalan and Öcalan is the people. Our will is imprisoned. I have no meaning without my will. I want to regain my will”. Within the scope of the campaign called “Campaign for Freedom for the Leader”, 3,500 petitions were submitted in Merdîn, 3,600 in Nisêbîn, 11,180 in Êlih, 30,600 in Amed, 6,500 in Wan, 951 in Agirî, 8,600 in Adana, 1,500 in France, 6,85 in Silopiya, 2,000 in Colemêrg, 11,541 in Bismil, 7,867 in Farqîn and 10,17 in Kop. Investigations and lawsuits were opened against a large number of petitioners. Prisoners also petitioned to be taken to Öcalan. 

 

AMARA MARCHES 

 

In 2004, the Federation of Associations of Families of Prisoners and Detainees (TUHAD-FED) led marches to celebrate Öcalan's birthday, April 4. Hundreds of thousands of people headed to Amara on Öcalan's birthday. Mahsum Karaoğlan and Mustafa Dağ were murdered in the 2009 march, which was organized despite the obstacles and attacks. In the marches and events held in the following years, Öcalan's physical freedom was shouted. In the following years, marches to Amara were organized every April 4th. 

 

3 MILLION SIGNATURES

 

Between July 2005 and May 2006, a new campaign was organized by the Free Citizen Movement under the name “Öcalan is my Political Will Campaign”. Within the scope of this campaign, signatures were collected from 3 million 243 thousand people who said, “As a Kurdistan resident, I see and accept Abdullah Öcalan as a political will in Kurdistan”. Hundreds of people were detained during the campaign. The collected signatures were made public at a meeting held in Ankara Dedeman Hotel on October 20, 2006.

 

GEMLI·K MARCHES

 

The Gemlik Marches were among the most noteworthy protests during this period. The Gemlik March was organized on September 4, 2005 against the isolation of Öcalan. Thousands of people from different cities started a sit-in protest after the march was stopped by soldiers and police officers in Bursa's İnegöl district. Gemlik Marches continued in the following periods. In 2012, under the leadership of DÖKH, women organized a sit-in in Gemlik district of Bursa as part of the campaign “Freedom for Öcalan, end political genocide”.

 

On October 9, 2011, the second “Gemlik March” was launched under the leadership of TUHAD-FED. The main demand was “Freedom for Öcalan”. On June 12, 2022, a new “Gemlik March” was launched with the slogan “We defend freedom against isolation”. While announcements were made from many cities to go to Gemlik, many vehicles were tied up along the way and hundreds of people were detained. While no one was allowed to go to Gemlik, Öcalan's freedom was shouted in the streets of Kadıköy, Istanbul. 

 

On February 6, 2023, on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the international conspiracy against the PKK leader, a march to Gemlik was organized in two columns with the slogan “We are walking to İmralı for a solution”. 

 

'HIS HEALTH IS OUR HEALTH'

 

Öcalan's lawyers announced at a press conference in Rome on March 1, 2007 that their client had been systematically poisoned. Kurds and their supporters organized large-scale demonstrations all over the world after the announcement. Hundreds of thousands of people launched a new campaign under the slogan “Öcalan's health is our health”. The protests spread to European cities. After receiving no response, Kurds then launched an indefinite-indefinite hunger strike. 

 

On April 11, 2007, 18 people went on an indefinite hunger strike in Strasbourg, France. The hunger strike was ended on its 39th day after Öcalan sent a message to the activists: “Resist by living”.

 

SIGNATURE TO CPT

 

Feleknas Uca, then Member of the European Parliament, and 7 other MPs started a petition demanding that Öcalan be subjected to a medical examination by an independent committee. A week later, 103,417 signatures were collected and delivered to the Secretary of the CPT Executive Board on May 11, 2007. The campaign also attracted great interest in Turkey. Rotating hunger strikes were organized in Êlih, Amed, Bazîd, Şirnex and Istanbul. These actions achieved their goal both in Europe and in Turkey. A delegation from CPT went to İmralı and examined Öcalan's conditions.

 

'ÊDÎ BES E' MOVE

 

Within the scope of the campaign, which started in Amed on December 15, 2007 with 900 letters demanding improvement in Öcalan's health conditions, hundreds of people from many provinces and districts sent letters to the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission, the Council of Europe (CoE) Human Rights Commission and the European Commission for Monitoring Torture (CPT). In 2007, the Democratic Society Party (DTP) organized a rally called “Êdi Bes e (Enough is enough) for an Honorable Life” that reached hundreds of thousands in cities across the region. Hundreds of thousands gathered at the rally and shouted their demand for freedom for Öcalan. 

 

'MR ÖCALAN' CAMPAIGN

 

On 23 May 2009, the campaign “If it is a crime to call Abdullah Öcalan ‘Mr.’, I commit this crime and denounce myself” was launched. Hundreds of thousands of people “denounced” themselves in Kurdistan provinces such as Amed, Şirnex, Wan, Mêrdîn, Colemêrg, Agiri, Mûş, Bedlîs, Çewlig, Dêrsim, Riha and cities in Turkey. In 48 days, the number of people who “reported” themselves was 36 thousand. 495 people were detained and an investigation was launched against 1,350 people. While petitions were not accepted by prosecutors in order to prevent the mass action, citizens “denounced” themselves by sending their petitions to prosecutors' offices via mail. After the resistance, calling Öcalan “Mr.” was decriminalized. 

  

715 NGOS APPLY FOR AN INTERVIEW

 

A delegation formed by 715 civil society organizations in the region for the solution of the Kurdish question asked the Ministry of Justice for an appointment to meet with Öcalan on 30 November 2011. 

 

The Democratic Free Women's Movement (DÖKH) started a march to Ankara on September 19, 2011 with the slogan “Let the war end and peace come to this geography” as part of the campaign for “Öcalan's freedom”. 100 thousand signatures collected for Öcalan were presented to the Parliament. 

 

On 9 October 2011, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Istanbul provincial and district organizations organized a protest against the conspiracy by placing black wreaths at AKP buildings in Fatih, Bağcılar and Kartal districts.

 

10 MILLION 'FREEDOM' SIGNATURES 

 

“Freedom for Öcalan, Peace for Kurdistan Initiative” launched a worldwide ‘Freedom for Öcalan’ campaign on 6 September 2012. The campaign was launched in Brussels, the capital of Belgium and more than 10 million signatures were collected. The collected signatures were presented to the Council of Europe. On February 15, 2014, the “Free Öcalan” campaign was launched with the signatures of 127 people, including intellectuals, writers, opinion leaders, academics and artists. Millions of signatures collected as part of the campaign were sent to the relevant authorities. 

 

EVENTS AFTER THE MILITARY UPRISING

 

After the July 15, 2016 military uprising, the lack of news about Öcalan and the allegations about his life caused intense anxiety among the public. “Freedom for Öcalan” vigils were organized in many cities and districts such as Amed, Adana, Riha and Hatay. Numerous demonstrations, protests, marches and statements were organized in this period, including in prisons, due to the lack of news from Öcalan.

 

In September 2016, an indefinite and irreversible hunger strike was launched in Amed with the participation of 5O volunteers under the leadership of DTK, HDK, KJA, DBP and HDP demanding a meeting with Öcalan. On the 8th day of the hunger strike, Mehmet Öcalan visited İmralı. Afterwards the strike was ended.  

 

200-DAY HUNGER STRIKE

 

On November 8, 2018, a hunger strike led by Democratic Society Congress (DTK) co-chair Leyla Güven demanding an end to the isolation of Öcalan was launched. Thousands of prisoners joined the strike. The strike was ended on its 200th day after Öcalan's lawyer's visit and the message received. Prisoners started a new indefinite hunger strike on November 27, 2020 demanding an end to isolation of Öcalan. More than 2 thousand prisoners in 107 prisons participated in the strike, which was also supported by those in Greece's Lavrio Camp and Maxmur Camp. The 290-day hunger strike ended on September 12, 2021.

 

CAMPAIGN BY THOUSANDS OF LAWYERS 

 

The Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) launched a petition with 768 lawyers and jurists to lift the isolation of Öcalan on May 25, 2021. The campaign called for opening the way for Öcalan to meet with his lawyers. In the following period, hundreds of lawyers from Europe and the Middle East made similar appeals. Most recently, on September 16, more than 1,500 lawyers and legal organizations from 35 countries sent a letter to the Ministry of Justice to go to İmralı and allow Abdullah Öcalan to see his lawyers. 

 

INTERNATIONAL ACTIONS 

  

After 1998, European countries were the most popular locations for demonstrations and events. On June 25, 2012, “Abdullah Öcalan Freedom Watch” protests were launched in the square in Strasburg, France, where the Council of Europe (CoE), European Parliament (EP), European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and CPT buildings are located. The action, which took place 7 days a week between 08.30-17.00, continued with the participation of various groups. The main demand of the demonstration was the lifting of the isolation on Öcalan and his freedom. The protest is still ongoing. 

 

In 2015, Öcalan was granted honorary citizenship in Palermo, Italy. After Palermo, Naples also granted Öcalan honorary citizenship in solidarity with the Kurdish people. Britain's largest trade unions, Unite The Union and GMB, launched the “Freedom for Öcalan” campaign in April 2016.

  

On September 20, 2016, members of the International İmralı Delegation, including Nelson Mandela's lawyer Essa Mossa, asked the CPT to visit İmralı urgently. On September 21 of the same year, the Kurdish Women's Movement in Europe (TJK-E) led a demonstration in front of the EP building in Brussels, Belgium. Hundreds of women gathered in front of the EP under the slogan “Women in action for the Leader and freedom” and demanded freedom for Öcalan.

 

On October 23, 2017, an indefinite sit-in was launched in front of the CPT. The action, which started with the support of 63 organizations representing peoples and beliefs from Kurdistan, Turkey and the Middle East, demanded that the CPT visit İmralı to examine Öcalan's situation on site. 

 

'TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION'

 

On January 11, 2021, the Kurdish Working Group of South Africa (KHRAG) and the Confederation of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) launched a campaign under the slogan “The Time has Come: Free Abdullah Öcalan for a just peace in Turkey” on January 11, 2021. As part of the campaign to mobilize the United Nations (UN), thousands of letters and e-mails were sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in many European countries and cities calling on him to “Act now”. 

 

The initiative started in South Africa and was joined a few days later by the European League of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH), New World Summit and the International Alliance for the Defense of Rights and Freedoms (AIDL). The Ghanaian ACCP (Alliance Creative Community Project) later joined the campaign by sending a letter to the UN. In Finland, the Leftist Youth Movement (Vasemmistonuorte) also announced its participation in the campaign.

 

On January 25, 2021, a sit-in protest was launched in front of the UN office in Geneva, Switzerland. On 15 February 2021, more than a hundred world-renowned artists, journalists and writers issued a declaration under the title “Free Abdullah Öcalan”. “More than 20 years have passed and it is time for Abdullah Öcalan to be freed,” declared journalist and writer Janet Biehl, voice artist and children's book author Leon Rosselson, musician and writer David Rovis, screenwriter Atiha Sen Gupta, graphic artist Jonathan Chadwick, among others. 

   

Hundreds of prominent writers, journalists, artists and human rights defenders, including Slavoj Zizek, Norman Peach and Noam Chomsky, have also signed the “Free Abdullah Öcalan” campaign in recent years. 

 

Tomorrow: Global 'freedom' campaign