PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who was forced to leave Syria on October 9, 1998 by an international conspiracy and was handed over to Turkey on February 15, 1999, has been held in isolation in Imrali High Security Type F Prison for 23 years. In the 23 years that have passed, the conspiracy was frustrated by the resistance of the peoples, and in this process, many changes took place in the Middle East geography. Syria, where the first seeds of the conspiracy were planted, was one of the places that had its share of this change.

 

Inspired by Öcalan's ideas after the civil war that started in Syria in 2011, the peoples managed to survive. In Northern and Eastern Syria, where a democratic autonomous system has been built where people of all languages, religions and identities can live in fraternity, equality and peace, great gains have been achieved with the struggle led by the Kurds. A new life began to be created with Öcalan's ideas and perspectives.

 

EDUCATION, LAW, AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION

 

The search for a new life in Northern and Eastern Syria with Öcalan's ideas and perspectives was defined as the "Rojava Revolution". After the revolution in Rojava, innovations were made in many areas of life. The lands that used to belong to the state were distributed to the peasants, and production cooperatives were established in some of them. With the "Rojava Social Contract", which was accepted for the first time in the region by making revolutions in the field of education, everyone was given the right to education in their mother tongue. The judiciary in the region is handled completely independently from the executive. In the proceedings, the main priority is determined as peace. In addition to the Social Contract rules, social moral values are also taken as basis in the determination of crimes and punishments.

 

WOMEN AND YOUTH REVOLUTION

 

Women and youth are leading the “Rojava Revolution” in Northern and Eastern Syria. Seen as an integral part of the revolution, women and youth play an active role in every aspect of the new life being built with Öcalan's ideas and perspectives. Women and youth in every social organization take part in organizations such as YPG-YPJ, TEV-DEM, Mala-Jin and Mala-Gel with their will of self-defense.

 

SAFETY AND HEALTH

 

After the start of the conflicts, the people in Northern and Eastern Syria took up arms and laid the foundations of the YPG and YPJ. There are battalions formed by many different groups, which includes not only Kurds but all peoples. YPG/YPJ battalions are now under the umbrella of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes many security units. In the Northern and Eastern Syria health system, the lack of medicine and medical equipment are prominent due to the fact that the region is kept under "Economic isolation". Against all these deprivations, with the improvements made in the field of health, many hospitals were opened and health services are provided free of charge.

 

Salih Müslim, member of the PYD Co-Presidency Committee, who stayed with Öcalan in Syria for a long time, evaluated the events in Northern and Eastern Syria and the isolation in Imralı to the Mesopotamia Agency (MA) within the framework of Öcalan's ideas and perspectives.

 

FREE INDIVIDUAL

 

Stating that Öcalan established a strong relationship with the people of the region and left a great impact after he crossed into Syria in 1979, Müslim noted that it was necessary for Öcalan to cross into Syria at that time. Stating that the first sprouts of the "Rojava Revolution" now taking place in Northern and Eastern Syria had sprouted at that time, Muslim said, "It was the year when a fascist policy was carried out against all peoples in Turkey, especially the Kurds. Turkey's fascist policies were immoral. Mr. Öcalan and his friends were aware of the brutality. Humanity and moral standards were shelved when it came to Kurds. Mr. Öcalan learned a lesson from this, and together with his friends, he laid the foundations of the 'Free People' movement. He created free individuals and then founded the party in 1978. For the party to survive and for the revolution to take place, Mr. Öcalan had to leave Northern Kurdistan at that time, so he moved to Rojava in May 1979.”

 

SPIRIT OF FREEDOM

 

Muslim stated that the main purpose of Öcalan's crossing into Syria was not to stay here, but to reach Palestine. Stating that Öcalan went to Palestine, which resisted Lebanon, Muslim said, "He did not come to make a revolution in Rojava at that time. He came here to save the revolution in Northern Kurdistan. When he was in Rojava, no one knew that he was the leader of the PKK. When he settled in Palestine, all the people began to know him. He passed through Kobanê, made some friends there, but they were all kept secret. After settling in the Beka Valley in Lebanon in 1982, the peoples of Rojava began to go to him. As a result of the developing relations with the peoples of Rojava, many people joined the 'Free People' movement. The number of free people was increasing. People were learning their own history, raising awareness, and developing their self-defenses on this basis. He created a spirit of freedom among the peoples of Rojava at that time. Öcalan's ideas and perspectives were dominant among the people at that time, and this dominance continues until today.

 

ÖCALAN'S IDEAS

 

Emphasizing that the "Rojava Revolution", which took place in Northern and Eastern Syria under the leadership of the Kurdish people and their friends, was fed by Öcalan's ideas and perspectives, Muslim noted that Öcalan affected all peoples. Stating that Öcalan strives for the equal coexistence of peoples, Müslim continued his words as follows: "He exchanged many views with the Arab peoples. He established good friendships with prominent people from different religions. These relationships continue to the present day. Öcalan instilled faith in the person he was talking to. Today, the relations he established have a great role in the Rojava Revolution, and we want to keep those relations alive.”

 

DEMOCRATIC MODERNITY

 

Stating that pictures of Öcalan were hung on the walls of the houses where the Arab people lived in the liberation lunge of Raqqa, Muslim added that not only in Raqqa, but also in Damascus, Aleppo and many other places, Arab people see Öcalan as their leader. Emphasizing that the relationship established between the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria and the peoples is strengthened through the relations established by Öcalan, Muslim said, “Democratic Modernity forms a basis for us. It is a democratic government that ensures equality between peoples. When we put these into practice, people who see this know that Mr. Öcalan has ideas. The revolution in Rojava rises on the foundation laid by Öcalan many years ago. Nation-states come to the fore in the Middle East, and the alternative is Democratic Modernity.”

 

WOMEN AND YOUTH

 

Stating that Öcalan's ideas and perspectives came to life mostly in women and young people, Müslim said: “Women were not seen as human beings in history. The woman was seen as an object to be bought and sold like a commodity. Right now, women are aware that they are human. It became clear that women are at least half of the society. Mr. Öcalan's ideas and perspectives play an important role in this regard. Women can live with their own strength. Women took on a new role when they realized their own power. Now there are free women. The women themselves were at the forefront of the revolution. Young people likewise became the leading elements of the revolution. They were not content with contributing to the revolution by taking part in every field, they grew the revolution day by day. Among these young people are young people from all parts and all nationalities. These young people contribute to the revolution within the framework of a philosophy and will.”

 

IMRALI ISOLATION

 

Reminding that Öcalan, who has been in isolation in Imrali High Security Type F Prison for 23 years, gave messages about Northern and Eastern Syria despite the isolation, he continued: “When Mr.Öcalan gives a message, this message is given to all the peoples in the four parts of Kurdistan. However, since he had the opportunity to spend time with the people living in Rojava between 1979-1999 and trained them himself, he does not forget them. The peoples of Rojava cares about him, and he cares about them. The people of Rojava never accepted this conspiracy. The continued isolation has no precedent in history. It is not only Mr. Öcalan who is held in isolation, but all the Kurds. We are aware that the system in Imrali does not only applied by Turkey. Turkey fulfills a duty as a guard there. International powers are responsible for this. It is not only Mr. Öcalan who is being held in Imrali, but the entire Kurdish community. The Kurdish people want Mr. Öcalan to be free. They don't have any other demands. The fact that the Kurdish people care about of Mr. Öcalan means that they take care of themselves. February 15 is a dark day for all Kurds. A Kurd who wants his own freedom needs to know that this black day is for everyone. Everyone should stand up against to this conspiracy, protect themselves and take part in the struggle accordingly.”

 

MA / Emrullah Acar