NEWS CENTER — Maryam Ebrahimi, co-spokesperson of the International Committee for Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, said more efforts are needed to secure Öcalan’s physical freedom, adding that pressure must be increased.

 

Debates over the Peace and Democratic Society Process in Turkey have focused on legal reforms, a democratic constitution and clarifying Öcalan’s status under the “right to hope” through improved conditions. Calls signed by politicians, academics, artists and rights advocates from various countries have also kept the issue of Öcalan’s physical freedom and status on the international agenda. One of the latest examples was an open letter signed by at least 580 people and submitted to international institutions on April 7.

 

The letter, prepared under the leadership of the International Committee for Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, stressed that ensuring Öcalan’s “right to hope” would be decisive for the ongoing process in Turkey.

 

Maryam Ebrahimi, an Iranian-born filmmaker based in Sweden and one of the committee’s co-spokespersons, is known for her political documentaries and work in international human rights. She won an Emmy Award in 2012 for her film No Burqas Behind Bars, set in a women’s prison in Afghanistan, and received the Human Rights Award at the Copenhagen Documentary Film Festival in March 2026 for her film "The Phantom Pain of Rojava" on wounded communities in Rojava.

 

Explaining her decision to join the committee despite striving for neutrality in her work, Maryam Ebrahimi said: “The first question that came to my mind was why a person should sit for 28 years in prison in isolation. For me, it was very inhuman. It was one of the basic motivations, beyond all ideology, that I think it is really brutal and inhuman to isolate a man who is beloved by many people behind bars.”

 

‘ISOLATION IS INHUMANE’

 

Maryam Ebrahimi said she first saw Öcalan’s capture in Turkey on Iranian television but, being young at the time, did not know much about him or the Kurdish freedom movement. She said she later began to question the reasons for his imprisonment, particularly during her time in Rojava, where she spoke with people.

 

“I try not to take any side or support anything, but to have a very neutral view and see the core of reality beyond the propaganda, beyond the surface. The first question that came to my mind was why a person should sit for 28 years in prison in isolation. For me, it was very inhuman. It was one of the basic motivations, beyond all ideology, that I think it is really brutal and inhuman to isolate a man who is beloved by many people behind bars. It is not just inhuman against this person; it is also inhuman against the people who belong to his land, who love him. It also creates more hate. That is something that should be stopped—it should be stopped now,” she said.

 

She added that prisoners have the right to communication under all circumstances and expressed surprise that the isolation had lasted so long.

 

“Of course, there were reactions, but they have not had a serious impact to change the policy of the Turkish government. You cannot just isolate a person from people who have questions. It is not just about support—it is about knowing, about investigating what he thinks. It is not acceptable, and we have to react before it is too late,” she said, adding that prolonged isolation has caused serious psychological harm.

 

TURKEY AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

 

Maryam Ebrahimi said Öcalan has many supporters but that Turkey sees this as a risk and has blocked his release despite rulings by the European Court of Human Rights and ongoing discussions.

 

She said: “They feel the risk that because he is so respected by his people. If he comes out, he could create a new challenge for the Turkish government. But at the same time, I think people should not give up. We have to insist as human beings. It is my concern that we cannot keep him so long in prison and, as I said, this would traumatize people, which creates more conflict and hate in the future.”

 

She added that Turkey’s position as a NATO member makes it difficult for other countries to take a clear stance, but said efforts and pressure must continue.

 

‘JIN, JIYAN, AZADÎ’ MOVEMENT

 

Maryam Ebrahimi said she had been particularly influenced by the “Jin, jiyan, azadî (Women, life, freedom)” movement, noting its spread from Rojava and Iran across the Middle East.

 

“It is rooted in Abdullah Öcalan’s ideology, and it is something very beautiful and progressive in terms of how we think about women. What I witnessed as a filmmaker was how this movement is really changing, developing, and improving the situation for women in the Middle East,” she said.

 

She added that women should organise and support the movement regardless of political affiliation: “As a woman, I think it is my responsibility to show respect and help make this process of peace and freedom faster. Its influence spread many countries, giving confidence to women that we must fight for a better life and that we are no longer slaves of capitalism.”

 

Maryam Ebrahimi said more than 580 signatures had been collected for the letter and stressed the importance of each one. She concluded: “I am trying to reach out to people I know, especially in Europe. I send messages, make phone calls and contact organisations and media as much as I can to help accelerate the process, because we do not have much time.”

 

MA / Hivda Celebi