TJK-E, the European Kurdish Women's Movement called for participation in the actions to be held on 12 May throughout Europe. The statement said: “Hegemonic, occupying forces impose cultural and physical genocide on the people of Kurdistan every day in order to maintain their colonial system. They want to put an end to the philosophy of Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan], who fought against these genocide attacks, brought the lost history of women to light again, was a model for the whole world with its alternative life model, and the PKK's struggle in the free mountains. What these hegemonic, invading and colonial powers cannot understand is that Kurdish women, youth and people are still standing despite all these attacks and conspiracies, the struggle in the mountains is increasing achieving new gains every passing day.”

The statement added: “Even if our Leader is held hostage in the Imrali torture system, his ideas spread all over the world. Today, millions of people are taking to the streets demanding his freedom. It is clear that Leader Apo's last phone call with his brother Mehmet Öcalan on 25 March was the result of the pressure put on the state by the Kurdish people. The state is afraid of Leader Apo's ideas, philosophy and thoughts.”

The statement reminded of the new attacks carried out by Turkey against South Kurdistan on the night between 23 and 24 April. “It is no coincidence that Zap, Avashin and Metina were attacked on this date. This attack, which took place on the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, targets women, young people and the people who develop themselves, struggle, walk on the path of freedom and truth, with the philosophy and ideology of Leader Apo.”

The statement underlined that “attacking the guerrilla means trying to implement the concept of occupation in 4 parts of Kurdistan. We consider the attacks against Xakûrke, Haftanîn, Garê yesterday, and against Zap, Metina and Avashin today as attacks against the achievements of all Kurdistan, the Kurdish and Middle Eastern peoples, and above all an attack on the free women.

The guerrilla is not the only response for systematic attacks against us. Every Kurd, every woman, every young person, every individual seeking freedom and socialism has a responsibility to act. Today, if the guerrilla resists and wins despite all the harsh conditions in those mountains, if the enemy is hit, we, as a society, must raise the struggle on the streets and protect our freedom wherever we are.

We must therefore take action for the success of the "Time for Freedom" and "We Will Beat Fascism Together" initiatives launched a while ago. On this basis, we call on our people living in Europe, Kurdish women, young people, democratic public opinion, feminist circles and all those who see their future in the line marked by the Kurdish Women's Freedom to increase the resistance by taking to the streets on 12 May."

Actions will be held in the following cities:

FRANCE

Strasbourg

1 Aveneu de Conseil de L'Europe

Time: 12.00

BELGIUM

Brussels

Place de Luxemburg

Time: 13.00

DENMARK

Copenhagen

Nytorv Kobenhavn

Time: 16.00

SWEDEN

Stockholm

Åhléns / Drottninggatan

Time: 17.00

ENGLAND

London

10 Dawning Street- In front of the Prime Ministry

Time: 13.00

GERMANY

Dusseldorf

Location: DGB Haus, Düsseldorf

Time: 17.00

NORWAY

Oslo

Untenriksdepartement 7- Juniplassen

Time: 16.00

AUSTRIA

Vienna

Front of the United Nations

Time: 15.00