On October 9, 1998, under international pressure from Turkey and NATO, Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan was forced to leave Syria and embarked on an odyssey through various European countries in pursuit of a peace process. This odyssey culminated on February 15, 1999, in an international intelligence operation that resulted in his abduction from the Greek embassy in Nairobi, in violation of international law, and his transfer to the Turkish prison island of Imrali. October 9 marks the beginning of the international conspiracy against Öcalan and is condemned as such by the Kurdish people every year.
Thousands of people participated in the protest demonstration organized by the Ciwanên Kurdistani and Arin Mirkan Women’s Council in Marseille against the international conspiracy.
In addition to Kurds from Draguignan, Marignane, and surrounding cities, numerous French institutions also supported the action.
During the march, banners reading “Freedom for Öcalan,” and “Pour la paix et solution démocratique, liberté pour Öcalan” were displayed, accompanied by the chants of “Bijî Serok Apo” and “Liberté pour Öcalan”. The march began on Marseille’s Canebière Street and ended with a rally at Vieux-Port Square.
Speaking here, Yılmaz Serhad, Co-Chair of the Democratic Communes Federation in Southern France, drew attention to the isolation system that has been implemented against Öcalan for 27 years, stating, “The Kurdish people, with their guerrillas and leadership, have foiled this conspiracy and turned their struggle into victory. The freedom of Leader Öcalan is the freedom of the Kurdish people.”
Speaking on behalf of the Marseille Youth Council, Tolhildan Azad stated that the October 9 conspiracy was planned under the leadership of the US, Israel, and the UK, saying, “Leader Öcalan has been held hostage in the Imralı torture system for 27 years, but his ideas have reached all of humanity today. We, the youth, pledge to bring these ideas to life.”
A statement by the Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe (TJK-E) was read out during the rally, emphasizing that Öcalan’s freedom is the key to a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue and regional peace.
TJK-E called on the European public and the international community to support Öcalan’s freedom.
The action ended with the slogans “Bijî Serok Apo” (Long Live Leader Öcalan) and “Liberté pour Öcalan” (Freedom for Öcalan).
[album=21538]