Two days before the 72nd birthday of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan on April 4, the rural neighborhood of Amara (Ömerli) in Urfa's Halfeti district where Öcalan was born has been blockaded by Turkish police and soldiers. Anti-riot water cannon vehicles and armored police vehicles cordoned off the neighborhood even though no program has been announced for the birthday of the Kurdish leader, which is celebrated massively every year despite government bans.

The blockade covers the house where the Öcalan was born. Police officers and soldiers set up checkpoints at the entrance of the neighborhood in the morning and performed ID checks.

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Urfa MP Ömer Öcalan reacted to the blockade of Amara by the police and gendarmes.

"They want to put pressure on the Kurdish people, but Mr. Öcalan's paradigm has taken place in the hearts and minds of the Kurdish people”, said Ömer Öcalan, adding “This paradigm and philosophy will remain alive for years."

The HDP MP said, “Everyone can celebrate that happy day on April 4 where they are. April 4 is the birthday of all Kurdish people."

Meanwhile, the birthday of Abdullah Öcalan was celebrated in an event held in Istanbul's Arnavutköy district.