Italy must fulfil its obligations to end the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan and secure his freedom, demanded a parliamentary press conference focused on “Political Rights in Turkey and the Case of Abdullah Öcalan”.

Wednesday’s press conference, which also commemorated the anniversary of Öcalan’s arrival in Italy, was initiated by Senator Tino Magni, who had previously questioned the Italian Foreign Minister regarding Italy’s position on Öcalan’s isolation.

Magni also announced an upcoming motion to recognise the Yazidi Kurds’ genocide by ISIS in 2014.

Former MP Giovanni Russo Spena, representing the Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan Committee, detailed the committee’s efforts and extended support to politicians advocating for Öcalan’s release. He revealed that petitions had been dispatched to parliamentary leaders, urging Italy to fulfil its obligations.

Cartoonist Zerocalcare emphasised Öcalan’s ideology’s pivotal role in the Kurdish struggle and the fight against ISIS. He underscored the significance of Öcalan’s freedom for both ending his inhumane isolation and potentially initiating a new peace process.

Yılmaz Orkan from the Kurdistan Information Office in Italy shared the view that Öcalan is the only negotiator capable of starting a peace process in Turkey. He stressed the importance of the international community understanding the ideology practised by the Kurds, which proposes peaceful solutions to Middle Eastern conflicts.

Angelo Bonelli, leader of the Green Party, stated that defending oppressed minorities is an ethical obligation, citing the Kurdish plight and the need for Öcalan’s release to bring the Kurdish issue back to the forefront of political dialogue.

Nicola Fratoianni, leader of the Italian Left party, suggested Öcalan’s peace proposal could address current global crises, concluding the conference by recalling his own participation in the movement when Öcalan arrived in Rome.

In a separate call, Eleni Theocharous, former European Parliament and Cyprus MP, supported the call for stronger actions for Öcalan’s freedom, criticising the European Parliament and international powers for their indifference. She praised Öcalan as a genuine leader and called for international support for his freedom.

Meanwhile, the European Kurdish Democratic Communities Congress (KCDK-E) has called for active involvement in the upcoming actions on 11 and 12 November, led by youth movements, as part of the global campaign for Öcalan’s freedom and a solution to the Kurdish issue. The KCDK-E highlighted the transformative role of youth in societal developments and struggles, condemning the capitalist modernity’s corrupting influences and promoting Öcalan’s paradigm as an alternative.