Thousands of people marched in Kobanê, demanding the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan who has been held in inhumane conditions since his arrest in Kenya and handover to Turkey as a result of an international conspiracy on 15 February 1999.
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.
Kongra Star, the umbrella organization of women in North-East Syria, organized a demonstration in Kobanê to demand freedom for Abdullah Öcalan.
Thousands of people, including members of institutions and organizations affiliated with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, women's movements, political parties, and civil society organizations, participated in the protest march.
The march from the Free Women’s Square to the Martyr Egîd Square in the city center was followed by a rally which started with a moment of silence.
Addressing the crowd, Macîde Hiso, a member of the Kongra Star Fırat Coordination, said, “We salute the resistance of Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) in the Imralı prison. The people have organized themselves around the ideas and philosophy of Leader Apo. Our people must rise up and demand Leader Apo's physical freedom. The key to solving all problems lies with Leader Apo.”
“Leader Apo is the hope of the people and the freedom of women. He is the solution to the problems in the Middle East. As we highlight the vital importance of Leader Apo's physical freedom, we call on everyone to his February 27 ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society’.”
The march concluded with the slogans “No life without the leader, no life,” “Long live Leader Apo,” and “Woman, life, freedom.”
