Many Kurdish institutions, including the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), the Center of Islamic Kurdish Studies (CÎK), the Kurdish Institute of Germany, and the Kurdish Institute of Belgium, are organizing a major rally on Sunday, June 29, at Heumarkt Square in Cologne, to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1925 uprising led by Sheikh Said.

A symbol of faith and resistance

In its call to participate in the rally, the European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress (KCDK-E) emphasized that the struggle of Sheikh Said and his comrades has served as a leading symbol in the Kurdish people’s century-long resistance. The statement pointed out that during the founding of the Republic, the promises made to the Kurdish people were not kept, and instead, policies of denial and destruction were adopted. “This path created a rupture within the Kurdish people and opened the door to resistance,” it read.

The statement also reminded that the historical process shaped by the resistance of Sheikh Said and his comrades continues to this day and added: “Instead of building a shared homeland, they denied the Kurdish people. For a hundred years, our people have struggled against this denial and destruction, paying a heavy price. These sacrifices are what have kept us standing and carried us forward. The martyrdom of Sheikh Said and his comrades is therefore of immense significance.”

It must be embraced with the spirit of national unity

The statement stressed that young people, women, and the elderly in particular should take part in the commemoration, emphasizing that coming together on this historic day with a spirit of national unity carries great importance.

The KCDK-E also noted the symbolic link between the international conspiracy of February 15 and the death sentence issued against Abdullah Öcalan on June 29. The statement underlined that such dates have been used to send “historical messages” to the Kurdish people. The statement read: “The Kurdish people resisted under the leadership of Mr. Öcalan and gave thousands of martyrs. The struggle, guided by Mr. Öcalan’s foresight and leadership, has defeated all these schemes and sparked a rebirth.

Mr. Öcalan’s call for ‘Peace and a Democratic Society’ on February 27 holds great significance in this regard. The success of this process stands before us as a historical duty and honor. We call on our people to join this call and bring it to victory.”

KCDK-E once again called on the people to embrace the June 29 rally in Cologne with a “spirit of mobilization.”