Accompanied by our MPs, members of the Insisting on Freedom Initiative, a group of young people from Italy, Germany and France, applied to the Ministry of Justice to request a meeting with Mr. Abdullah Öcalan.
The initiative members later met with our delegation consisting of our Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları, Vice Co-Chair Ebru Günay, HDK Co-Spokesperson Meral Danış Beştaş, and our MPs Sümeyye Boz and Vezir Coşkun Parlak. Following the meeting, the initiative members delivered a statement in both Turkish and English.
The statement reads as follows:
We are the "Insisting on Freedom" delegation, formed out of young people from Italy, Germany and France who are united in the search for an alternative life. We believe in real democracy, the sister- and brotherhood of the peoples and a society in harmony with nature. As internationalist youth of the “Insisting on Freedom” delegation we are taking part in the international campaign “We want to meet Öcalan”, demanding the immediate physical freedom of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan.
Today we are here in Ankara, on the 24th of July to demand a meeting with Öcalan. On 24th of July 2015 the Turkish state took the decision in this city to bomb the Kandil mountains. By this act the efforts for peace of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan at that time where undermined and the peace process from 2013-2015 came to an end. We are here on this day, because we want to support the effort for peace of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan in the process of Peace and Democratic Society. Even under the harshest conditions of isolation, Mr. Öcalan has been able to pave the way for this process. We believe that his participation under free working conditions will ensure a successful outcome in the current process. Because of this, on this historic day, we call for the immediate release of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan from the prison island of Imrali!
All over the world the developments in relation to this peace process are being closely followed. As youth living in Europe, we see how the political paradigm of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan is a source of inspiration for progressive forces. In these times, which are defined by war and violence, the call and the ideas of Mr. Öcalan are resonating strongly with the peoples desire for peace. At a time of escalating war around the world and especially in the Middle East, we feel the need to take a clear position: Like Mr. Öcalan said, not through weapons but through democratic politics long lasting peace can be established. In the following days we will be in Istanbul to discuss the ideas of Mr. Öcalan with different political actors. But we do not only want to discuss the ideas in between each other, but also directly with Mr. Öcalan himself.
We are inspired by the idea of Mr. Öcalan about the construction of a new internationalism to create bridges among the peoples.
As young people we see our responsibility for social transformation and communal organization.
We insist on freedom.
Insisting on Freedom Delegation:
Merlin Wendt - Germany, Socialist Youth The Falcons
Mari Chureau – France, For Social Ecology For People PEPS
Ritchy Thibault - France, For Social Ecology For People PEPS
Benni Dragone - Italy, Press
Martina – Italy, Internationalist Youth Commune
Marie – Germany, YUNA Democratic Youth and Young Women’s Commune
Giosve Vicidomini - Italy, the UGS Sinistra Italiana Youth Organization
24 July 2025