The Freedom for Öcalan vigil that was launched nearly 5 years ago in front of the Council of Europe (CoE) building in Strasbourg, France continues. Kurds living across Europe take over the vigil in groups every week.

Shehnaz Batti, İmran Karaer and Kurdistan Kasırga from the Scandinavian Kurdish Women’s Movement have taken over the vigil from the group from Sachsen, Germany on the 253th week of the event.

Putting emphasis on the importance of support with the Freedom for Öcalan vigil, the group members underlined that freedom of Kurdish women depended on the freedom of the Kurdish leader.

Group members said they would try to tell about Öcalan’s thoughts on world peace, the womens’ issue and the freedom of peoples as they carry out the vigil for one week.

The Freedom for Öcalan Vigil is held in Robertsau district, which is home to the Council of Europe (CoE), as well as the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the European Parliament (EP), Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and other such institutions. The vigil continues through all 7 days of the week and is the longest-running demonstration held by Kurds without a single day break in between.

The Vigil began on June 25, 2012, and has continued without a pause since then. In every week of the vigil, Öcalan’s thoughts on the struggles of women, Kurds and humanity are promoted. Protestors have reached out to millions of people so far during the vigil that also attracts the attention of tourists visiting Strasbourg.