Residents of the Martyr Rustem Cudi Refugee Camp launched a vigil on July 20, 2023, to demand freedom for Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been incarcerated in Imralı Island Prison since 1999. The vigil was taken over by the 195th group on its 1005th day.
The handover ceremony, attended by dozens of people, began with a minute of silence at the Institution of Martyrs’ Families in memory of the Kurdistan Freedom Martyrs. Afterwards, activist Qedri Shirisheyî, a member of the 194th group, made a statement.
Stating that they continue the vigil protest with strong determination, Qedri Shirisheyî said: “We have been holding this vigil for three years. With this action, we are drawing attention to the situation of the leader and raising our voice for his physical freedom. For the second phase of the peace and democratic society process to succeed, laws in Turkey must be changed immediately, and a new social contract must be established in Turkey. In order for Leader Öcalan to play his role in this process, he must be released as soon as possible. The issue of the Kurdish people, which has continued for centuries, is now on the verge of victory.”
Following Qedri Shirisheyî’s speech, the new group took over the vigil with the slogans “No life without the Leader” and “Long live Leader Öcalan.”
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