Freedom for Öcalan Vigil in Geneva reaches its 290th week

The Vigil for Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, held every Wednesday in front of the UN Office in Geneva, since 25 January 2021, has reached its 290th week. During the action, organised by Kurds from Kurdistan, international institutions were called upon to ensure Leader Apo’s physical freedom and fulfil their responsibilities. This week’s action began with a minute of silence in memory of the Kurdistan Freedom Martyrs,

The Vigil for Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, held every Wednesday in front of the UN Office in Geneva, since 25 January 2021, has reached its 290th week.

During the action, organised by Kurds from Kurdistan, international institutions were called upon to ensure Leader Apo’s physical freedom and fulfil their responsibilities.

This week’s action began with a minute of silence in memory of the Kurdistan Freedom Martyrs, in particular Commander Egîd (Mahsum Korkmaz), on the 42nd anniversary of the 15 August 1984 Offensive.

15 August 1984 was the beginning of a new era

Veysel Kuşkanadı, spokesperson for the Geneva initiative Freedom for Öcalan, a Solution to the Kurdish Question, issued a statement on the 42nd anniversary of 15 August. Kuşkanadı said that the armed struggle that began on 15 August 1984 brought the Kurdish question onto Turkey’s political agenda, while Leader Apo’s 27 February 2025 “Peace and Democratic Society” call opened the door to a new era.

Emphasising that democratic politics must be the basis for making the new process permanent and that the Kurdish question must be resolved through legal and political means, Kuşkanadı said that, despite its shortcomings, the Framework Law currently on Parliament’s agenda could constitute a beginning in terms of establishing a legal basis. Kuşkanadı said the law must be expanded in a way that takes into account the historical and political reality of the Kurdish question.

Öcalan’s freedom is a fundamental condition for the process to succeed

Kuşkanadı said that ensuring Öcalan’s physical freedom and implementing the “right to hope” are among the fundamental conditions of the process, adding that the Kurdish question must be addressed on the basis of a democratic and political solution, rather than through the framework of security and weapons.

Kuşkanadı noted that the 42 years of experience stretching from 15 August to the present offer a historic opportunity to build a new future based on democratic politics rather than conflict and the language of peace rather than the language of war.

Call to attend the Kurdish Culture and Arts Festival

The statement also called for building a democratic society in the spirit of the 15 August Offensive. In this context, it was announced that the 2nd Swiss Kurdish Culture and Arts Festival would be held in Zurich on 29 August under the slogan “We are building a democratic society in the spirit of the 15 August Offensive.” Young people, women and internationalists were invited to the festival, which will be held at Hardturmstrasse 269/65.