The Afrin Coordination of women’s umbrella movement Kongreya Star organised a march in Shehba region calling for immediate access to Imralı after Thursday’s reports of a fire on the island where Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan is held together with three other prisoners; Veysi Aktaş, Hamili Yıldırım and Ömer Hayri Konar.

The protest march in Ehdes district of Shehba was attended by thousands of people from Afrin and Shehba. The march was concluded with a rally in the village of Marate. A minute of silence observed here was followed by the speeches of Sureye Hebesh in the name of Kongreya Star Afrin Coordination and Melek Hisen in the name of the Free Women’s Union in Shehba (Yekîtiya Jina Azad a Şehbayê).

Speakers voiced their determination to not surrender and not to give up their struggle, vowing to continue with their actions until Öcalan is heard from.

The demonstration ended with the slogans “Bijî berxweda Îmraliyê” [Long live the Imralı resistance] and “Bê serok jiyan nabe” [There can be no life without the Leader].