Ronahi Women’s Assembly members take over the Freedom for Öcalan Vigil in Strasbourg

The Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan Initiative launched the vigil on 25 June 2012, in Strasbourg. Activists have demanded freedom for Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan and an end to the isolation in Imrali for the 493th week.

Members of the Ronahi Women’s Assembly from Hannover took over the vigil this week.

The group includes Aliye Ekinci, Ronahi Deniz and Aysel Doğan.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Aliye Ekinci drew attention to the fact that the Kurdish people’s leader has been held in captivity and isolation for 22 years.

Aliye Ekinci added that they exposed the Imralı torture concept, developed in partnership with the Turkish state and the EU, with this action which is held where the European institutions are located.

Ekinci said that since 2012 the Kurdish people have persistently demanded the freedom of their leadership, but that not a single person from the institution officials who claimed to be a democracy and human rights defender, visited the protest to listen to the demands of the Kurdish people.

“It is the shame of Europe,” she said and added: “We cannot hear a single word from Leader Öcalan. European institutions are not fulfilling their duties.”

She said that the Kurdish people are worried about the process, and called for European institutions to take action as soon as possible.

Ekinci said: “Women will not be liberated until our leadership is liberated,” and added that women will overthrow fascism and free Öcalan.

Ekinci finally called on the Kurdish people and their friends and said that “the freedom of the Kurdish people is based on the freedom of their leadership. The democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish problem passes through Imrali. Our people and our friends should increase their actions to achieve the freedom of our Leader.”