Ocalan's freedom is critical to the process says Stephen Smellie

2025-08-18 09:38:40


	NEWS CENTER - Stephen Smellie, a member of the National Executive Council of UNISON, one of the largest public sector unions in the UK, stated that Abdullah Öcalan's physical freedom is of "critical" importance for the process. 

	 

	The process that started with Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society" continues with the work of the commission established in the Parliament. 

	 

	Stephen Smellie, a member of the National Executive Council of the UNISON and member of the Peace in Kurdistan Campaign (PIK), made evaluations on the process and the role of Abdullah Öcalan.  

	 

	Speaking to Mezopotamya Agency (MA), Smellie said that he met the Kurdish movement through a Kurdish asylum seeker who defected to Scotland and then travelled to Amed (Diyarbakır). Smellie said that it was not possible for him to remain indifferent to the Kurdish issue after the impression he gained during this visit, "Bbecause what I learned was both horrifying, determining what people had suffered. Also inspiring in terms of the ideas and the determination that people had to fight for things which I suppose I take for granted to freedom of speech, freedom of organisation, freedom to express myself and freedom to identify myself as I choose. And at that point in time, people couldn't really say Kurdistan out loud in case somebody from the state would have heard them. So it was all whispers with an explanation of what the struggle was about, what the PKK was about," Smellie said. Smellie said that as a result of this trip and other activities, he started to participate in the Peace in Kurdistan Campaign. 

	 

	'KURDS ARE LEADING'

	 

	Smellie said that the call of Abdullah Öcalan, whose ideas he had learnt over time, was as inspiring for democratic struggle as his predecessors, and described the PKK's decision to dissolve itself and the ceremony of burning weapons as "brave steps". Underlining that the state has not taken strong enough steps in response to this, Smellie said: "The struggle for freedom and justice has to be through peace and democracy. I think we've all concluded that along the same level. And the Kurds are leading them once again."  

	 

	'ÖCALAN'S FREEDOM SYMBOLISES THE PEOPLES'

	 

	Noting that Abdullah Öcalan's physical freedom is "critical" to the process, Smellie said: "Öcalan's freedom symbolises the freedom of all the peoples in Kurdistan and indeed in Turkey. Step to feel the whole peace process is not reliant on one man, no matter who he is. But as a symbol of where the people want to be, and hopefully where the government eventually want to be, it is really important that he is physically free, that he is able to speak to parliament. But more importantly than that, speak to the people and those people who are on the ground in the daily struggle. I should add, in order to speak to people abroad, because there's a lot of people throughout the world who are very interested in what's going on. And then we need a spokesperson like Ocalan, who speak truth to power, not just in Turkey, but in Europe and America and elsewhere."

	 

	'THE ISSUE IS NOT ONLY A MATTER OF TURKEY'

	 

	Emphasising that the process in Turkey will affect not only Turkey but also the situation in the Middle East, Smellie said: "If we can find a democratic and peaceful solution to Turkey's problems, this can completely change the situation in the Middle East. It would be the light of a peaceful and democratic future for the peoples of the Middle East. This would be a great achievement. The issue is not only a matter of Turkey; it concerns the entire Middle East and even beyond."

	 

	THE IRELAND EXPERIENCE

	 

	Pointing out that unions are involved in the peace talks in Ireland, Smellie said, "We need to be in contact with the street. We need to be in contact with women, men and young people. In Northern Ireland, trade unions played a very critical role in this regard. Sometimes they were able to see things that politicians could not see. They were able to clearly express why peace is needed." 

	 

	Stating that the commission established in the Parliament should also listen to the voices of all segments, Smellie said: "Any commission that wants to take these issues seriously should make room for these people. Peace must be built in the community, in neighbourhoods, workplaces and streets. Otherwise it is fragile. That is why everyone must be involved, all voices must be heard. That is why trade unions should definitely participate in the process and be taken into consideration." 

	 

	Stressing that they are in contact with labour organisations in Turkey, Smellie underlined that it would be difficult for the process to work without trade unions and that they will do their best as a union for a solution.

	 

	'WE MUST DO MORE'

	 

	Stating that his country has been hesitant to criticise Turkey over the violations, Smellie continued as follows: "The UK government needs to speak much louder on this issue. Personally and on behalf of my union, I wrote a letter to the government on this issue. We have a real responsibility on this issue. There is a large Kurdish community in Scotland and we work closely with them. We need to give them more support and the courage to speak out about their homeland."

	 

	MA / Hîvda Çelebi