In the Medya Defense Zones, fighters of the People’s Defense Forces (HPG) and the Free Women’s Troops (YJA Star) marked the birthday of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan with a series of activities. The celebrations began with symbolic acts such as tree planting. In the evening, guerrilla units gathered around a fire, accompanied by slogans such as “Rojbûna te pîroz be Serok Apo” [Happy birthday Leader Öcalan] and “Bê Serok jiyan nabe” [No life without the Leader].
Speeches at the celebration emphasized the political and social significance of the day. YJA Star commander Nîştiman Sorxwîn stated: “April 4 is the birthday of Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan]. At the same time, it is the birthday of all of us—the Kurdish people, women, and all freedom-oriented societies.”
The commander noted that the meaning of the day today is inseparable from the sacrifices of the Kurdish freedom movement: “Many martyrs have been lost for this meaning. On this day, we especially commemorate the martyrs of Amara and all martyrs of the revolution. We will continue their path until victory.”
Guerrilla fighter Bêrîtan Amanos highlighted the connection between the date and women’s liberation: “For us women, April 4 is a new birth. Our goal is to keep the leader’s ideas alive not only on this day but throughout our entire lives. Until his physical freedom is achieved, we will not take a single step back.”
HPG fighter Dijwar Botan linked the symbolic acts to political meaning: “We plant trees for April 4 as if we are building a new life. Leader Apo has taught us how the Kurdish people can renew and strengthen themselves.”
Other speeches also emphasized the link between nature, social renewal, and political perspective. Guerrilla fighter Têkoşîn Ardil said: “April is a month of renewal in nature. In this sense, the birth of Leader Apo also represents a social revival. His connection between nature, society, and women is even more visible today.”
Additional speakers described April 4 as a reference point beyond Kurdistan. Guerrilla fighters Ferhat and Toprak Dîrok defined the day as an expression of a broader social project and pointed to the growing spread of the underlying ideas, visible for example in mobilizations around International Women’s Day on March 8 and Kurdish New Year Newroz.
The celebrations concluded with collective activities around the fire.
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