On the anniversary of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan's Call for Peace and a Democratic Society on 27 February 2025, 33 intellectuals from around the world, including prominent figures such as Jody Williams, Edgar Morrin, Slavoj Zizek, and Angela Davis, made a joint call for the implementation of the 'right to hope' and the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan.   

 

French sociologist Michael Löwy, one of the 33 thinkers who made the call, shared his views on the call and Abdullah Öcalan's situation with the Mezopotamya Agency (MA).    

 

Stating that he supports the Kurdish Freedom Movement's efforts to find a peaceful and democratic solution, Löwy said that Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish people should have the "right to hope". Löwy said, "I hope that our call will contribute to legitimise the struggle of the Kurdish people for democracy and freedom.” 

 

THE IMPACT OF TURKEY'S POSITION ON THE PROCESS 

 

Löwy said that Abdullah Öcalan and the PKK had taken important steps towards disarmament and a peaceful solution, but added that he did not see President Erdoğan taking equivalent steps, stating, "Ocalan has not recovered his freedom, Selahattin Demirtas and the other Kurdish political prisoners are still in jail, the Kurdish elected mayors of several towns are still removed from their position, the rights for the Kurdish culture and language have not be re-establishment. Not to mention Erdogan’s intervention in Syria against the people of Rojava. This attitude of the Turkish government is negatively affecting the process."   

 

CONTRIBUTION TO INTERNATIONALIST SOCIALISM  

 

“Ocalan’s call is important, both for the future of Turkey, as well as for a universal Democratic future,” said Löwy and added: “Ocalan’s perspective, going beyond the rigid limits of the nation-state, is an important contribution to a multinational, and internationalist socialist program. He has also understood the decisive importance of the ecological issue for the future of humanity.”

 

Löwy said that the release of political prisoners, especially Abdullah Öcalan, is a necessary first step for mutual trust and genuine dialogue. "If Ocalan and the Kurdish Political prisoners are freed, this would have a positive impact for democracy in Turkey.  If the Turkish government would stop his intervention against the Kurdish autonomy in Syria (Rojava) that would be an important step for democracy in the region,” he concluded. 

 

MA / Hivda Celebi