Young people who joined the march organized in Amed (Diyarbakır) by the Democratic Patriotic Youth Platform under the slogan “Free Life with the Leader (Abdullah Öcalan) of Freedom” spoke to ANF.
Devrim Atınkaya, speaking at the march, criticized the state and government for failing to take steps toward the peace process. Atınkaya said, “The demand of the youths gathered here is the physical freedom of Kurdish People’s Leader Mr. Öcalan. When the peace process collapsed in 2015, the isolation was intensified. Along with the isolation, the policy of war against Kurdistan gained momentum. Municipalities were seized, and trustees were appointed. In fact, the system of isolation has spread across every aspect of the country. Our greatest demand is the freedom of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan. There is an undeniable rise of fascism in Turkey, and Mr. Öcalan’s physical freedom would mean the creation of a democratic ground in the country and the weakening of fascism.”
We are in the streets with our demands
Herdem Nergis stated that they will remain in the streets until Öcalan’s physical freedom is achieved. Nergis said, “What has been done to Abdullah Öcalan, the years of conflict, the bloodshed, and the demand to end his imprisonment, all of these shape our demands. As a Kurdish youth, we now want Abdullah Öcalan to be free. Under the slogan ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ (Woman, Life, Freedom) and with Öcalan’s ideology, we have gathered here today. Women in Turkey are being murdered systematically and deliberately every day. We are also in the streets to say enough to this.”
We want a free environment
Ömer Yoldaş Özbalkan stated that they were in the streets to voice their demands. Özbalkan said, “Our purpose is to hold a march that expresses the legitimate demands of the Kurdish people over the years. We will march for the freedom of Öcalan, who has been imprisoned for many years. Öcalan must be freed as soon as possible. If he is free, social peace can be achieved. Young people, simply, want a free environment, and they are struggling for it.”