NORŞİN ABDİ

Kobanê- On October 10, 2023, the campaign demanding “freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and a solution to the Kurdish question” was launched in 74 countries with the support of NGOs, unions, political parties and writers. Since then, the thoughts and philosophy of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan have been discussed in reading events organized by women and young people as part of the campaign.

On March 28, a 6-month visit ban was issued against Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysi Aktaş, who have been imprisoned in the prison island of Imrali along with Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. The visit ban was approved by the prison administration. The reactions to the new visit ban and the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan and the political prisoners continue. NuJINHA spoke to the women living in the city of Sirîn (Sarrin), northeastern Syria, about the aggravated isolation imposed in the prison island of Imrali.

‘Arab people also believe that leader Öcalan is a leader fighting for the rights’

The will of women was ignored before the revolution in Rojava, Fatma Ahmed Molla, Co-chair of the Sirîn City Council, said, emphasizing that the life of women changed after learning the thoughts and ideology of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. “We understood that his thoughts and ideology are the only way to liberate ourselves and gain our rights in society. Thanks to education programs, we have begun to break gender stereotypes in our society. We have begun to change the patriarchal mindset aiming at isolating women from all facets of life. Arab people also believe that leader Öcalan is a leader fighting for the rights of all people.”

‘We will ensure the physical freedom of leader Öcalan by preserving our gains’

Mentioning the aggravated isolation imposed in the prison island of Imrali, Fatima Ahmed Molla said, “Leader Öcalan's struggle for democracy and peace disturbs the thieving, usurping governments. Therefore, he was arrested by an international conspiracy. He has been subjected to brutal rights violations since he was arrested. The aim of the isolation imposed on him is to imprison his thoughts. But his thoughts and ideology have already reached us. They have been spreading all around the world. The system based on democracy and equality has proved how his thoughts and ideology are universal.”

In her speech, Fatima Ahmed Molla called on all people, especially women, to hold more activities and protests in order to lift the isolation imposed on Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. “We will keep holding activities and protests to lift the isolation. We will ensure the physical freedom of leader Öcalan by preserving our gains.”

‘Leader Öcalan has been physically imprisoned’

Leader Öcalan has been physically imprisoned in Türkiye but his thoughts and ideology have already spread all around the world, said Hanan Halid, Co-chair of the Sirîn Culture and Art Center.

“Today, Arab people are free thanks to the thoughts and ideology of leader Öcalan. The isolation imposed in the prison island of Imrali is against international law and a violation of human rights. Leader Öcalan has been physically imprisoned in Türkiye. But his thoughts and ideology are with us. We will keep spreading his thoughts and ideology all around the world. Thanks to his thoughts and ideology, we have a system based on democracy in North and East Syria. I call on all international organizations to put pressure on the Turkish state in order to lift the isolation imposed on our leader.”

‘We will ensure his physical freedom’

We have the will to break the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan and ensure his physical freedom, said Esma Muhammed, a member of the Kongra Star Education Committee in the city of Sirîn.

“In 2015, Arab women learned about their roles in their society and how to be free thanks to the thoughts and ideology of Abdullah Öcalan. Arab women now play important roles in all facets of life such as in the military, politics and social life. The Turkish state has been imposing an aggravated isolation on Abdullah Öcalan because it sees his thoughts and ideology as a threat. The Turkish state has intensified the isolation imposed on him and its attacks on North and East Syria,” Esma Muhammed said.

“The Middle East and the world are going through a process called the Third World War. The thoughts and ideology of Abdullah Öcalan are the key to ending the crisis suffered by the Middle East and the world. The Turkish state aims to prevent a solution to these crises by aggravating the isolation. Despite all the calls and protests all around the world, the international organizations do not take a step to lift the isolation. Not only the countries that joined the conspiracy and Türkiye but also those who remain silent are responsible for the isolation imposed on leader Öcalan.”

We believe in our will and the will of Abdullah Öcalan and we do not expect anything from anyone, Esma Muhammed said, “We will ensure the physical freedom of leader Öcalan and defeat the conspirators by spreading his thoughts and ideology.”