‘This march is for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and Kurdistan’

Participants of the Great Freedom March were welcomed by a large crowd in Siirt. DEM Party MP Ömer Öcalan said, "This land has had enough of war and deaths. Kurds need status and Mr Öcalan must be released."

The Great Freedom March, which started from two branches, Kars and Van, on 1 February to demand the physical freedom of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and a democratic solution to the Kurdish question, continues on its 11th day. The action demands freedom for the Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been kept under heavy isolation in İmralı Island Prison for 25 years and has not been heard from for the last 35 months, and a democratic solution to the Kurdish question.

Those taking part in the Kars branch of the march have reached the Siirt province where they visited the Peace Mothers after a march through the city center. DEM Party MP Newroz Uysal Aslan said, "Our mothers have been struggling for an honourable peace for many years. This struggle enlightens our path".

DEM Party MP Keziban Konukçu said, "Your struggle is guiding the women's struggle in Turkey. We bow in front of your struggle with respect."

Peace Mother Maşallah Işık Arslan said, "This march is a march for freedom and equality. Everyone should see this march. We wish success to the marchers."

Peace Mother Ayşe Taşçı and Zere İnan sang songs calling for the physical freedom of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

The group then travelled to the Kurtalan district, where they were massively welcomed before they moved to the DEM Party election office. Speaking at the meeting where enthusiasm prevailed, DEM Party MP Ömer Öcalan said: "This march is for the freedom of Mr Öcalan and Kurdistan. Mr Öcalan declared a ceasefire many times. He did his best for peace, but we have not heard from him for 3 years. If we are marching for his freedom, our people should support us. The government is conducting a genocide policy and a dirty war. There is persecution in prisons. But we want peace nevertheless. Mr Öcalan is the interlocutor and they need to sit at the table with him. This land has had enough of war and deaths. Kurds need status and Mr Öcalan must be released."