Group from Pforzheim takes over the Freedom Vigil in Strasbourg

The vigil launched by the Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan in Strasbourg, France on June 25, 2012 demanding the freedom of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan, is now in its tenth year.

The vigil, which continues at the meeting site of European institutions, has entered its 506th week, with groups of Kurds and their European supporters taking part. In the new week, members of the Democratic Kurdish Community Center in Pforzheim, Germany, took over the action. Cafer Selçuk, Abdullah Mutlu, Hasan Kocahal, and Abdulkadir Kızılboğa are among those in the group.

‘Isolation can only end through resistance’

Cafer Selçuk, speaking on behalf of the group, indicated that another aim of the action, which prioritizes the physical freedom of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan, is to end the isolation imposed on him.

Selçuk noted that the fundamental reason for the worsening economic and social crises is the insolubility in the Turkish state’s approach to the Kurdish problem, emphasizing that the isolation has become absolute and converted into isolation on the societies of Kurdistan and Turkey.

Selçuk stated that while isolation is imposed on all prisoners in jails, political convicts, particularly sick prisoners, are left to die.

Selçuk added that the only way to break the isolation is through resistance, emphasizing that European countries are collaborators in crimes against humanity. The Kurdish activist stated that “Emancipating our leader by expanding our struggle means freedom for all peoples.”