ISTANBUL – Nese Ozgen, member of the European Forum for Freedom and Peace (EFFP) and campaign coordinator for "I Want to Visit Öcalan," stated that isolation remains the biggest barrier to achieving peace.

 

Following Abdullah Öcalan’s call for a peaceful and democratic resolution to the Kurdish issue, the EFFP launched the "I Want to Visit Abdullah Öcalan" campaign on June 5, aiming to improve the conditions that would allow Öcalan to actively lead the process. 

 

Nese Ozgen emphasized that the campaign includes academics, politicians, and journalists who fled Turkey due to anti-democratic practices. “Our fundamental goal is for our country to achieve peace and democracy,” she said.

 

‘PHYSICAL FREEDOM FOR MR. ÖCALAN MUST BE SECURED’

 

Nese Ozgen highlighted the need for Öcalan’s physical conditions to improve and for his release, arguing that a negotiating party cannot effectively participate without political freedom. She also stressed the importance of allowing people—students, women, youth—to meet Öcalan and hear his voice. “Ultimately, the goal is Öcalan’s liberation and the recognition of his right to speak freely,” she stated.

 

‘ACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES CONTINUE’

 

Describing a broad network of nearly 300 initiatives and activists supporting the campaign, Nese Ozgen noted that over 100 women from 13 countries sent letters to the Turkish Ministry of Justice requesting meetings with Öcalan. She also referenced a July visit to Turkey by 39 journalists, academics, and parliamentarians as part of the campaign. On August 8, the EFFP published a comprehensive report emphasizing the importance of Öcalan’s physical, speech, and thought freedoms. “Our work continues,” she affirmed.

 

‘SUPPORT COMES FROM DIVERSE GROUPS’

 

Nese Ozgen mentioned more than a hundred organizations and individuals backing the campaign. She cited Indian environmental activist Ashish Kothari, who creatively linked Gandhi and Öcalan’s peace philosophies, as an example of the campaign’s broad intellectual support. “These diverse voices unite around peace and democracy,” she said.

 

‘ISOLATION IS THE GREATEST BARRIER TO PEACE’

 

Nese Ozgen concluded by underscoring the courage, perseverance, and global solidarity needed to defend peace. She highlighted that democracy and peace advocates have been stigmatized for two decades and called for amplifying their voices in both Europe and Turkey. “EFFP aims not only to speak about Turkey and Kurdistan in Europe but also to build a diaspora that strengthens democratic forces inside the region,” she said.

 

MA / Esra Solin Dal