Thousands of people from various cities and camps in the autonomous region of North and East Syria demonstrated in Hesekê on Sunday for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan. Under the slogan ‘With the spirit of communalism and democratic society, we will live freely with Apo,’ participants in a protest march demanded the physical freedom of the Kurdish leader imprisoned in Turkey.
The demonstration began in the Til Hecer neighbourhood and proceeded along the main road of the Mufti neighbourhood to the Centre for Art and Culture, where a closing rally was held. Representatives of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the women’s movement Kongra Star emphasised in their speeches the central importance of Öcalan for political stability in the region.
PYD politician Sebrî Efrîn said that the ongoing resistance of the population and Öcalan himself had shown that repression was not a solution. According to the organisers, Öcalan’s idea of a ‘democratic nation’ offers a solution to the political crises in the Middle East.
Welîda Botî, member of the Kongra Star coordination committee, stated that Öcalan’s release was closely linked to the establishment of a peaceful and democratic society. ‘It is time to reap the fruits of our long struggle for freedom and dignity,’ she said and underlined that women had taken a leading role in this process and would continue to expand it.
The rally ended with slogans calling for Öcalan’s release and the slogan ‘Freedom for Leader Öcalan’.