In the northern Italian city of Brescia, Radio Onda d’Urto’s traditional summer festival once again sent a clear message of solidarity with PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish freedom movement. For the third consecutive year, an entire day of the festival was dedicated to the “Time of Hope” initiative, which is part of the international campaign “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan – Political Solution to the Kurdish Question” that has been running worldwide since 2023.
The festival, which has been held for 33 years and lasts 18 days, attracted thousands of guests. The event day dedicated to Öcalan and Kurdistan was organized jointly by the Kurdish Information Office Italy, Radio Onda d’Urto, and the Rete Kurdistan Italia network. In addition to a political panel, an evening concert featuring well-known Italian bands took place.
The festival area was decorated with portraits of Öcalan, flags of the People’s and Women’s Defense Units YPG and YPJ, and banners with slogans such as “Defend Kurdistan” and “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan.” Öcalan’s books were presented in various languages at information stands. Large balloons bearing his image attracted additional attention.
Political discussion
In the afternoon, a panel discussion was held featuring DEM Party MP Berdan Öztürk, the party’s European representative Eyüp Doru, journalists Murat Çınar and Daniela Galie, and Yılmaz Orkun from the Kurdish Information Office.
The panel, entitled “Call for Peace and a Democratic Society – Expectations for a Confederal Revolution in Turkey, the Middle East, and the World,” was moderated by Radio Onda d’Urto editor Michele Borra.
Borra explained that his station has supported the campaign for years because Öcalan’s concept of democratic confederalism shows a way to peaceful coexistence without war. “His freedom is also important to us. We believe that we are on the verge of a turning point,” Borra said.
Öztürk presented Öcalan’s February 27 ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society’ and the developments since then in English. He said that the PKK’s withdrawal from armed struggle and the destruction of its weapons were a “sign of the utmost determination” to resolve the Kurdish question by democratic means. He stressed that Öcalan offers a model “that benefits all peoples.”
Journalist Çınar outlined the development of the PKK and highlighted Öcalan’s continuous efforts for peace since the 1990s. Daniela Galie, editor at Dinamo Press, described her impressions of Rojava, where many elements of democratic confederalism are being implemented, such as gender-equal dual leadership in administrations and women’s projects such as the village of Jinwar.
Cultural program and call for solidarity
In the evening, representatives of the organizers took the floor again. Yılmaz Orkun expressed his gratitude for Italy’s long-standing support and spoke of 2025 as a “possible decisive year” for Öcalan’s freedom. Two activists read passages from the Kurdish leader’s writings.
The bands Bandabardò and ZAK, who have been supporting the Kurdish movement for years, provided musical entertainment until late into the night. According to the organizers, attendance was higher this year than in previous years—a sign that the issue is gaining traction in Italy.
Source: ANF News
