On 15 February 1999, Abdullah Öcalan was captured in Kenya by Turkish special agents acting in connection with the CIA and Mossad, while en route from the Greek embassy to Nairobi airport. The Kurdish leader was then handed over to Turkey where he has been incarcerated in aggravated isolation in the İmralı Island Prison since.

The Congress of Kurdistan Democratic Societies in Europe (KCDK-E) released a statement thanking the people who took to the streets in Strasbourg and many other parts of Europe on 15 February

The KCDK-E message on Monday reads as follows:

"Tens of thousands of people participated in the demonstrations against the 15 February international conspiracy in Australia, Canada, Europe and Strasbourg, France as part of the “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, a Political Solution to the Kurdish Question” campaign.

Our selfless people, women and youth, the pioneers of the freedom march, filled the areas and shouted the slogan “Freedom for Leader Öcalan, a Solution to the Kurdish Question” with a single voice. On the anniversary of the dark conspiracy, they condemned with hatred the forces that continue the 100-year-old policies of denial, extermination and genocide.

Taking a historic step, Leader Öcalan has provided a glimmer of hope to the peoples of the Middle East and Turkey thanks to his proposals that frustrated the genocide against the Kurdish people and led the Middle East and Turkey from a process of war and crisis to a process of peace and democratic solution. Even before making a historic statement, he has exposed the masks of those who oppose democracy, peace and a solution.

The great Strasbourg rally has once again declared the fact that the Kurdish people as a whole are determined to follow the path drawn by Leader Öcalan. Tens of thousands of people in Strasbourg said “Freedom for Leader Öcalan and a solution to the Kurdish question”.

The friends of the Kurdish people filled the areas and practiced internationalist solidarity on a global scale. The peoples of Europe saluted the Kurdish people's march for freedom and the struggle for the freedom of Leader Öcalan.

Tens of thousands of people declared that they are fully committed to the new democratic and libertarian process initiated by Leader Öcalan and that they will embrace this move with a more determined and stronger will to make it a success. They made it clear that victory shall be attained by working harder for the physical freedom of Leader Öcalan.

The days when the 26-year process of dark conspiracy will be shattered and the struggle for freedom and democracy will succeed are not far away. The great values that have been gained and the ideas of Leader Öcalan, who guides humanity, lead us and give us hope.

We would like to thank all our people, women, youth, councils, federations, all institutions and all those who took responsibility for their selfless efforts. We would also like to thank the municipality of Strasbourg, its employees and all relevant institutions for providing all the facilities during the march.”