Free Women's Congress (Kongreya Jinen Azad, KJA) held a press conference at Cegerxwin Cultural Center in Amed announcing the initiation of a campaign based on the freedom of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

The press conference was attended by HDP Group Deputy Chair Çağlar Demirel, DBP Co-chair Sebahat Tuncel, DTK Co-chair Leyla Güven, KJA Spokesperson Ayla Akat Ata, artist Mizgîn Tahir, as well as many HDP members, Peace Mothers, representatives of women's organisations in Amed and many women.

KJA Spokesperson Ayla Akat Ata read the press release after one minute's silence for all those who lost their lives in the struggle for democracy and freedom.

Indicating the current historic process and the freedom struggle starting in the Middle East and extending all around the world, Ata said women were the main actors in the Syria-oriented struggle and also those who paid the heaviest price.

Ata stressed that the main cause of the chaos experienced in Turkey at the moment was the insistence to not understand the freedom struggle waged by the Kurdish people for 40 years and rejection of the Democratic Republic project developed by Öcalan with great efforts.

Recalling that the Turkish state responded to the self-rule declared by Kurdish people for a democratic resolution with the demolition of cities and war crimes against people, Ata said this situation resulted in the emergence of dirty groups of authority, pro-war factions and authority conflicts, and sustainment of the political arena on 'coup mechanics' equation.

Ata said they as Kurdish women believed negotiations with Öcalan must be initiated not on İmralı but under free conditions, warning that every political system in Turkey will face a collapse unless this is realized.

Stressing that Öcalan's freedom also meant the resolution of problems in Turkey, Ata pointed out that every threat and malpractice regarding his health and security damaged the relations between Kurdish and Turkish people.

Announcing the initiation of the 'I reclaim my Leader, Land and Freedom' campaign, Ata called upon all the women and women's organisations in Turkey to establish and advance a democracy front all together for a united and free system.

Ata noted that the AKP government is developing a new construction plan for the cities and towns it has brought to the ground, saying; “During this process, we have once again witnessed the fact that you cannot gain any achievement, value and accomplishment unless your political identity and rights are guaranteed as a folk. In this regard, the Kurdish people have grown stronger in the face of this truth taught by relentless attacks and policy of destruction.”

Ata invited all women to rebuild the cities and life in villages, towns and cities on the basis of solidarity.

The events and activities included in the campaign to last six months are as follows;

* Women's meetings will be held in every neighborhood and and panel discussions in 16 cities till September 1 with the motto "Every public meeting is an act".

* 'Freedom for the Leader' vigils will be initiated in Istanbul, Amed and Wan provinces under the leadership of Peace Mothers' Assembly.

* Women's rallies will be organised in Êlih (Batman), Amed, Wan (Van), Mêrdîn (Mardin) and İstanbul during the months of September and October with the motto "I reclaim my Leader, Land and Freedom”.

* Reconstruction and solidarity efforts will be re-planned with all the women's organisations in Şirnex, Nisêbîn, Sur and Gever with the motto “Her Warek Welatek”.