On the final day of their annual congress in Dundee, Scottish trade unions representing over half a million members passed a motion urging the UK to cease arms sales to Turkey and called on the Turkish government to release Abdullah Öcalan. The resolution also calls for the cessation of bombings in Kurdish areas of Syria.

The unions have expressed a strong stance against the ongoing oppression of Kurdish political and cultural entities by the Turkish government and have called for meaningful negotiations to resolve the conflict. The resolution, which received unanimous support from over 300 delegates, stresses the essential role of Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan in potential peace talks.

The congress highlighted that Öcalan has been imprisoned for 26 years, with the last three years spent in complete incommunicado detention, during which no contact with his legal team or family was permitted.

The Scottish trade unions’ demands include using diplomatic channels through NATO and direct communications to both governments to emphasise the urgent need for Öcalan’s release and the initiation of peace negotiations.