The actions and activities launched on 10 October 2023 to demand the physical freedom of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue continue. As part of the campaign, a "Long March" was launched on 21 January in Lorient, France. The march will end on 15 February, the 26th anniversary of the international conspiracy against Abdullah Öcalan. On 15 February, a big rally will be held in Strasbourg.

 

Kurdish and internationalist youth will also come together in Heilbronn, Germany on 9 February and start a march. After Heilbronn, the march will continue to Ludwigsburg, Stuttgart, Offenburg and Freiburg im Breisgau. The youth will complete their march on 15 February by participating in a rally in Strasbourg.

 

 

Sidar Göksu, a member of the preparation committee of the march, stated that hundreds of young people from many European countries such as Germany, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium will participate in the march. Pointing out that they will react to the conspiracy and isolation, Göksu said, "This year, many people from different peoples are expected to participate in the march in many cities of Europe. This is an important message of solidarity for the common struggle of peoples."

 

Noting that Kurdish and internationalist youth organised various actions and events throughout the year within the scope of the campaign, Göksu said, "Young people held conferences, marches, panels and civil disobedience actions in France, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium during the year. Our actions continue. Our actions and activities will continue everywhere until the isolation on Abdullah Öcalan is lifted."

 

MARCH PROGRAMME

 

Göksu stated that on the first day of the march they will organise a seminar in Heilbronn, on the second day they will only march and distribute leaflets, on the third day they will commemorate those who lost their lives in the "You cannot darken our sun" protests, and on the fourth day the internationalist youth will have their own programmes. Göksu said, "On the following days, we plan to read about Abdullah Öcalan's life and distribute leaflets with cinevision. On 14 February in Freiburg im Breisgau, only songs about the Leader (Abdullah Öcalan) will be sung. On 15 February, it will end with a mass march and rally in Strasbourg."

 

Göksu added, "Our first demand is the lifting of isolation and the physical freedom of our Leader. If the isolation is lifted, the policies of denial and annihilation against the Kurdish people will end. If isolation is lifted, status will come to Kurdistan, if isolation is lifted, the attacks on Rojava will end, the ban on the Kurdish language will end. It is necessary to know this. We will be in the fields this year with the demand for 'Abdullah Öcalan's physical freedom and status for Kurdistan'. We invite all our people and young people in Europe to shout the freedom of our Leader in the strongest way. We welcome all young people to our march."

 

MA / Esra Solin Dal