Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Strasbourg on Saturday, calling for the release of imprisoned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan, which has been described as the largest mobilisation in years. The demonstration marked the 26th anniversary of Öcalan’s abduction, and received unprecedented coverage from major French media, reflecting a significant shift in the visibility of the Kurdish struggle in France.

Öcalan was illegally abducted on 15 February 1999 through what Kurds define as an “international conspiracy”, orchestrated with the collaboration of global powers. Deprived of due process and denied legal protections under international law, Öcalan was forcibly taken from Kenya to Turkey in an operation that blatantly violated fundamental legal principles. Moreover, his abduction violated the principle of non-refoulement under international law, which prohibits the forcible transfer of individuals to states where they may face persecution or human rights violations. It also breached the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, as Kenyan authorities, under international pressure, transferred him to Turkey unlawfully and without due legal process.

These legal breaches indicate that Öcalan’s imprisonment was not solely a Turkish affair but the result of an orchestrated international collusion that disregarded established legal norms, setting a dangerous precedent for political abductions.

For the 26 years since his capture, Öcalan has been held in isolation on İmralı Island, with the last few years spent in a state of complete incommunicado detention – a condition widely condemned by human rights organisations. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled in Öcalan v. Turkey (2005) that his trial was unfair, citing violations of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), particularly his lack of access to a lawyer during interrogation and the undue influence of political pressure.

According to reports from Le Monde, DNA, France 3, L’Humanité, and other major French outlets, approximately 20,000 people participated in Saturday’s march in support of Öcalan, which culminated in a rally demanding his freedom and a broader recognition of Kurdish political rights.

L’Humanité pointed out that Kurdish leaders see Öcalan as the key to any political reconciliation between Kurds and the Turkish state, while Le Monde quoted a demonstrator as saying:

“We march not only for Öcalan’s freedom but for peace and justice in the region.
 Without him, there can be no meaningful resolution to the Kurdish question.”

Despite the intensified crackdown on Kurdish opposition of Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, there have been the first tentative steps since last October of a reconciliation process, with representatives having been allowed three visits to İmralı Island prison to meet with the Kurdish leader. These visits have fuelled expectations of a potential shift in Turkey’s approach to the Kurdish question, particularly regarding the possibility of a historic statement from Öcalan.

According to DHnet, Kurdish political figures are cautiously optimistic, despite Turkey continuing its repression of Kurdish activists, elected mayors and political representatives. Many demonstrators in Strasbourg voiced their demand for more concrete steps, beyond symbolic visits, urging European institutions and the French government to pressurise Turkey into ending Öcalan’s isolation.

“For years, we have seen little coverage of our struggle in the French press. Today, that is changing. This means the Kurdish cause is no longer ignored,” said one protester quoted by La Libre.

The strong mobilisation in Strasbourg is part of a broader history of Kurdish activism in France, where Kurdish communities have consistently taken to the streets in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and other cities to demand their rights. The assassinations of Kurdish activists in Paris in 2013 and 2022 further galvanised solidarity networks, while the Kurdish fight against ISIS, particularly in North and East Syria (Rojava), has strengthened international support. These factors, combined with years of relentless demonstrations, have contributed to the growing visibility of the Kurdish cause in French society.

The demonstration also comes amid heightened French diplomatic activity in the Middle East. French President Emmanuel Macron and Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné have played an active role in regional discussions, particularly regarding the future of Syria and the inclusion of Syrian Kurds in any post-war settlement. France has repeatedly called for Turkey to cease military operations against Kurdish forces in northern Syria and has advocated for the representation of Syrian Kurdish groups in negotiations over Syria’s political future.

The extensive media coverage in France suggests a growing awareness within Europe of the need to address the Kurdish question. Protesters called on the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe and the European Parliament to take concrete steps against Turkey’s human rights violations.

“For a long time, European institutions have remained silent on Öcalan’s fate. But today, 
our voices are being heard in the press and in the streets,” said Kurdish Democratic 
Council in France (CDK-F) representative Şahin Polat to Medya News

Observers believe that the broad and detailed reporting of this year’s demonstration reflects a growing recognition of Kurdish demands within French and European political discourse. The question now is whether this increased visibility will translate into policy shifts at the European level regarding Turkey’s treatment of Öcalan and the broader Kurdish movement.