Öcalan criticised going to Europe: Young people being subjected to conscious policy of emigration 2025-09-17 12:59:11 ANKARA - In his last meeting with the İmralı Delegation Abdullah Öcalan called on young people who migrated to Europe to return to their country if they have the opportunity. "I prefer İmralı to Europe," Öcalan was quoted as saying during the meeting. The Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party İmralı Delegation held a meeting with Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is being held in İmralı F-Type High Security Closed Prison, on 28 August after a long break.    It was stated that many topics were discussed during the three-hour meeting. It is learnt that Öcalan made important evaluations especially about young people migrating to Europe.   According to the information obtained from the meeting, Abdullah Öcalan emphasised that those who migrated to Europe should establish their lives in their countries and should not move away from their lands.   Öcalan criticised the fact that people from Riha (Urfa), Agirî (Ağrı) and other provinces did not want to stay in their own regions and stated that this was due to a conscious policy of removal.   THE CAUSES OF MIGRATION SHOULD BE DISCUSSED    It is stated that Abdullah Öcalan stated that the reasons why people leave their countries and the reasons for this departure should be discussed in depth.   It is learnt that Öcalan made the following statements during the meeting: "I prefer İmralı, to Europe. I am very clear; they should pay their debts to their own land and culture. I encourage them to do so. One of my goals in this process is to ensure a qualified return to the country from exile."   It was also reported that Öcalan underlined the need for Kurds in Europe to build their own culture, language and roots.   MA / Selman Güzelyüz