Tens of thousands rally for Öcalan in Cologne

“We believe that this protest will lead to success. We are ready for any and all actions to make sure this protest succeeds. We will prevail.”

The march with the motto “Break the Isolation Tear Down Fascism” organized to support the hunger strikes launched to protest the aggravated isolation imposed upon Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Ocalan started in Cologne, Germany.

Tens of thousands of Kurds and allies arrived in Cologne from all around Germany early in the morning and the march started after a minute’s silence.

The crowd arrived in the rally area, chanting “Leyla Guven is our honor” and “Biji Serok Apo”.

KCDK-E, NAV-DEM, FCDK, FED-MED, Maras Initiative, AVEG-KOM, PKAN, ATIK, YJKE, FEDA, Partizan, SKB, YS, Agif, Alinteri, MLKP, HBDH and hunger strikers accompanied by their families from Nuremberg, Duisburg and Kassel attended the demonstration.

The police detained hunger striker Mustafa Tuzak early in the march and refused to release him. The families of hunger strikers in Europe led the march cortege with their banners.

Another banner was opened with a list of prisoners on hunger strike in Turkey and Kurdistan.

DILAN KOC: WE WILL PREVAIL

Yuksel Koc’s daughter Dilan Koc spoke to the ANF and said: “We are here as Yuksel Koc’s family. As his daughter I’m here, his brother, wife and all his Kurdish family is here and we feel their support.

We believe that this protest will lead to success. We are ready for any and all actions to make sure this protest succeeds. We will prevail.”

The crowd moved into the rally area, chanting slogans.