Thousands have gathered at the rally following a march in Strasbourg, France in protest at the international conspiracy against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan at its 18th anniversary.
Tens of thousands have staged a march from Strasbourg's Central Train Station to Rue des Vanneaux where a rally has begun in protest at the 15 February 1999's international conspiracy against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan at its 18th anniversary. The rally is joined by Kurds coming from Germany, Switzerland, France, Austria, Netherlands and Belgium.
The rally organised by the Democratic Kurdish Society Center in France (CDK-F) began with one minute's silence in memory of the martyrs of Kurdistan and revolution.
70 internationalists who marched from Luxembourg to Strasbourg with the motto "Freedom for Öcalan, Status for Kurdistan" took to the stage first. The internationalist activists were welcomed by the mass with slogans.
"CAPTIVITY OF ÖCALAN IS UNACCEPTABLE"
Reading the statement on behalf of the internationalists, Sarah Marcha recalled that a Long March has been staged from Luxembourg to Strasbourg with demand of freedom for Öcalan, in which participants covered a total of 270 kilometers in 10 days.
Pointing out that dozens of representatives from Europe, Middle East and Latin American countries demand freedom for the Kurdish people, Marcha stressed that a nation-state system, gendered fascism and nationalism was being developed against the common values and interests of peoples.
Putting emphasis on the importance of Öcalan's freedom for peoples, Marcha said the conditions of captivity imposed on Öcalan were unacceptable.
"KURDISH MOVEMENT MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE LIST OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS"
The statement of internationalists underlined that democracy was torn down in Turkey, and called for the removal of the Kurdish movement from the list of terrorist organizations. It was also remarked that the criminalization of the Kurdish freedom movement caused a deadlock for the resolution of the Kurdish question.
"ROJAVA RESISTANCE REALIZES THE DREAM OF A PEACEFUL WORLD"
Calling attention to the Turkish state's invasion of Syrian lands and its support to the ISIS, the statement laid emphasis on the importance of the Rojava Revolution, saying: "The resistance of Rojava is realizing the dream of a fair and peaceful world for humanity."
Following the statement, group members from each country greeted the participants of the rally. Internationalist activists from Germany, Basque Country, Spain, UK, Switzerland, Portugal, Catalonia and several other countries took to the stage and held speeches in their mother languages.
