HESNA MIHEMED

Shahba- The Afrin-Shahba Peoples’ Initiative started a petition demanding the physical freedom of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan on February 12, 2024 as part of the “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, solution to the Kurdish question” campaign. In an interview with NuJINHA, Rozelîn Koşan, Council member of Ehdas district in Afrin/Shehba Canton, spoke about the petition.

‘The CPT is responsible for the health of leader Apo’

The petition was started to demand the physical freedom of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, Rozelîn Koşan said, “The petition was started across Afrin/Shehba Canton and it continues. We visit home by home to collect signatures. We have already collected a significant number of signatures and we keep collecting. Leader Apo has been isolated in Imrali prison for 25 years. The international community remains silent against the rights violations against him. The CPT (European Committee for the Prevention of Torture) is responsible for the health of leader Apo and must fulfill its duties.”

‘We will always take to the streets’

Rozelîn Koşan noted that they would always take to the streets to demand the physical freedom of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. “After collecting the signatures we will send them to the relevant authorities. Another aim of the petition is to draw attention to the ongoing attacks on North and East Syria. We will struggle until we ensure the physical freedom of leader Apo.”