Freedom Shall Prevail: The Struggle of Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish People

by Sean Michael Wilson

Freedom Shall Prevail is the first graphic novel exploring the life and struggle of Abdullah Öcalan, affectionately known as “Apo.” Highly regarded around the world, Öcalan led the Kurdish freedom struggle as the head of the PKK from its foundation in 1978 until his abduction by the Turkish state in 1999. He has, so far, spent twenty-five years in captivity. In this graphic novel we learn, in his own words, what Öcalan’s childhood was like in the partially Kurdish areas of Eastern Turkey and how his political awareness and commitment grew as a student in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Through the personal struggle of Öcalan we also see the terrible devastation that Kurdish people have suffered and learn about the tumultuous and dramatic history of the relationship between the Kurds and the Turkish state. The book also dives into the theories developed by Öcalan that continue to influence the ongoing struggle today. Expanding on these, the second part of the book gives us a wider consideration of the issues and policies around women's freedom, democratic confederalism and paints an inspiring picture of one of the most impressive attempts to build a genuinely grassroots democratic system anywhere in the world. The struggle going on in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, also known as Rojava, is one that is directly combating gender and racial discrimination and the abuses of the capitalist economic system—in truly interconnected ways. This wonderfully illustrated graphic novel is a collaboration between award-winning Scottish writer Sean Michael Wilson and Kurdish artist Keko, with backing and research help from Peace in Kurdistan Campaign and the International Initiative “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan—Peace in Kurdistan,” groups with long term and impassioned commitment to the cause of Öcalan and the Kurdish people’s freedom.

Genres: Graphic Novels

160 pages, Paperback

Published July 30, 2024

About the author

Sean Michael Wilson is a comic book writer from Scotland. He has had around 30 books published with a variety of US, UK and Japanese publishers, including: a comic book version of A Christmas Carol ('Best of 2008’, Sunday Times), AX:alternative manga ( 'Best ten books of 2010’, Publishers Weekly), Parecomic (with an introduction by Noam Chomsky, his first contribution to a book in graphic form). He is currently writing books for big Japanese publisher Kodansha, being the only British writer to do so. In fact, he is the only pro manga writer from Britain who lives in Japan. He is also the editor of the critically acclaimed collection 'AX:alternative manga' (Publishers Weekly's 'Best ten books of 2010' and nominated for a Harvey award).

Working with various Japanese artists he has written a unique line of Japanese history/martial arts/Samurai books, including The Book of Five Rings, Secrets of the Ninja, The 47 Ronin, and Cold Mountain (winner of China Comic and Animation Competition 2015 ‘Best Overseas Comic’ award). In 2016 his book 'The Faceless Ghost' was nominated for an Eisner Award. In 2017 he became the first British person to receive an International Manga Award from the Japanese Government. In 2019 his book 'The Many Not the Few' was launched by the Labour Party leader in an event in the Houses of Parliament. In 2020 he received the Scottish Samurai Award from an association promoting connections between Japan and Scotland.

He does comic books outside the normal superhero/fantasy brands, going into areas such as history, biography, drama, and social issues, often in collaboration with universities, charities and book publishers. He often gives lectures and talks about comics in schools and colleges, and writes articles for such places as The Japan Times, The London Economic and The Herald Scotland.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to the struggle of the Kurdish people and Abdullah Öcalan.

[Kirin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I should know more about the Kurdish freedom struggles, but honestly aside from broad strokes, headlines, and what I've overheard some family friends discuss over the years, I really don't know much. And after reading this adult graphic novel biography, I know a little more, but not enough to write a full fleshed out review. The electronic arc that I read did not have sourcing, and the book's online blurb says that the book has "backing and research help from Peace in Kurdistan Campaign," so I'm not sure what is Abdullah Ocalan's own words, what is perhaps propaganda, what are literary liberties, and what are facts. The graphic novel is framed as a college student interviewing someone who has been involved with Kurdish freedom struggles for 30 years, and when she begins talking the book is shown from Ocalan's perspective. Part one is his background and Part two more his ideology and work since imprisonment in 1999. The information shared is harsh, as it reflects the reality of an oppressed people: there is suicide, hangings, killing, death, self immolation, cursing, oppression, torture, violence, and imprisonment. I was curious to see if Islam was a part of his ideological formation and it seems in his early years it was, until it was replaced by Marx. Even in his early years he is a rough character, and I don't feel like enough background of the occupation was provided to allow understanding of the key players and why he had to go about his movement in the way he did. I'm not saying the book owed it to the ill-informed to provide all that, I'm just letting you all know that reading this 160 page book may not provide a general overview of the Kurdish freedom struggles as much as it provides insight into Ocalan's development, influences, and realizations of his political theories.

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

While informative, it is almost a hagiography of Ocalan. There is no discussion of his flaws, critical perspectives of his actions.

There is no discussion of how Ocalan was involved in the leadership of the movement, or his involvement in directing campaigns, suicide bombings, targeting (civilians, or military targets, or both) etc. These things are discussed as things that just "happen", but it is also while Ocalan is head of the PKK. Perhaps we are meant to infer that he directed these tactics? Or are we meant to infer that he didn't? The fact I am not clear is a flaw in the book.

The framing device of a student interviewing an old woman (Estella) is odd. It may have been better without this framing device. The lack of critical engagement from the student tells me she may not be a good student - she just seems to be in the book to say "wow!", "this is great!", "woowee!" Is she meant to be an audience surrogate? I just don't get it.

I certainly learned a lot from this book, but it is flawed. It may be better to read Ocalan's works themselves, or go to a better overview of the conflict.

[M.A. Dubbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting and informative read about Abdullah Ocalan and more recent activities of his resistance movement for Kurdish people. I learned a bit about the Kurds in another graphic novel (Rolling Blackouts) and was curious to learn more as I wasn't too familiar with their struggle, persecution, and genocide (although the book itself doesn't use this definition which I found surprising). I do wish there was a bit more historically about Kurdistan and its boundaries. The book also has some partiality towards the PKK movement compared to other Kurdish movements, too.

[M.J. Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book with lovely art. The first part goes into the life of Ocalan in a very easy to follow way which shoes his personality and humanity. The 2nd part looks at the wider political issues and conflict, but still in a way that is flowing and smooth, even those the issues are complicated and dramatic. Democratic confederalism is an important model for the world to learn about. The Kurdish artist and Scottish writer did an excellent job on both sections.

[Jule · Rating 3 out of 5]

Die Graphic Novel gibt das Leben von Abdullah Öcalan wieder, teilweise mit Originalzitaten. Leider wie zu erwarten sehr personenkultig und wenig differenziert. Über Fehler der PKK und Abdullah Öcalans wird nur kurz drüber gebügelt.
Der Teil über Rojava und die politischen Inhalte sind dagegen ganz gut dargestellt.
Die Zeichnungen von Keko sind anschaulich und gut gelungen.

[Paul Doke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick afternoon read, absolutely a 5/5 telling of Öcalan and the Kurdish story.

To the reviewer who claimed to be "confused by what are his words and what's propaganda" it's pretty easy to tell... His words are in the first person, the author/narrator is in the third. Not that hard, but I also suspect your skepticism was not sincere.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been interested in Ocalan and the struggle of the Kurdish people for years, and this is a way to ease into learning more than what I had generally picked up.
I have picked up two books recommended in a listing provided by this book.

[Marc-Antoine Serou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, made me want to learn more about the dude.

[Sorkunde · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant short graphic novel that achieved condensing key events and ideas in Oçalan's struggle in liberating Kurdish people from the fascist colonial oppression.

Democratic confederalism (genuine democratic self-control of education communities, workplaces, and resources) and intersectionality are at the core of Oçalan's vision for a deeply transformed society.

Inspirational read for those seeking a basic introduction to the Kurdish struggle for freedom.