A vigil by the Democratic Kurdish Community in Switzerland has been taking place in front of the UN headquarters in Geneva since 25 January 2021. Every Wednesday, activists stage a protest in front of the United Nations building to demand the release of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan. The action is carried out as part of the 'Dem dema azadiye' [Time for Freedom] campaign and directed against the isolation of the Kurdish leader on the Turkish prison island of Imrali, the Turkish occupation attacks on Kurdistan, the massacres committed in Kurdish territories and the silence of the UN.

During this week's demonstration, which is held at a tent set up in Nation Square where the UN Office is located, activists celebrated the Kurdish Language Day on 15 May and protested the aggravated isolation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has not been heard from for 38 months.

Tekin Baydağ, speaking on behalf of the Action Committee, denounced the total isolation of Öcalan said, "We will be in action until we get results." Baydağ addressed international democracy organisations, especially CPT, emphasising that Kurds have never stopped struggling for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and will never stop.

Saying that May has a special meaning for Kurds, Baydağ congratulated Kurds living in 4 parts of Kurdistan on 15 May Kurdish Language Day and said that Kurdish should be spoken in all areas and conditions.

The activists called for participation in the event to be held this evening at the Democratic Kurdish Community Centre on the occasion of Kurdish Language Day.