Protests in Jazira condemn international conspiracy against Leader, demand his freedom, Kurdish rights

October 9 marks the 28th anniversary of the international conspiracy that targeted Leader Ocalan in 1998, which led to his departure from the Syrian capital, Damascus, before he was abducted from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on February 15, 1999.

To condemn the conspiracy on its 28th anniversary, residents of Qamishlo, Amuda and Tirbespiye took to the streets in demonstrations expressing their rejection of it.

Qamishlo

In Qamishlo, a protest was held today under the slogan, “With the peace and democratic society initiative, the international conspiracy and the Imrali system will collapse,” with hundreds of residents taking part and raising pictures of Leader Abdullah Ocalan, as well as Kurdish symbols and flags.

The protest began at Soni Roundabout and passed through several main streets in the city, with participants chanting slogans demanding Leader Ocalan’s freedom, including “There is no life without the leader” and “Freedom for the international leader.”

The protesters stopped at Martyrs’ Roundabout in the city center and observed a minute of silence in honor of the martyrs.

Speaking on behalf of the People’s Initiative in the city, Shirin Dawoud said the October 9 conspiracy had not only targeted Leader Ocalan, but also the will and identity of the Kurdish people as a whole and sought to prevent his ideas from reaching them. She said Leader Ocalan’s freedom was not solely about his personal freedom, but about the freedom of all peoples.

Dawoud pointed to the sensitivity of the current phase, saying that achieving victory for the peace project requires action and an understanding of democratic integration. She stressed that integration does not mean the dissolution of the Kurdish people or their language, but rather preserving their language, culture and identity as elements connected to their history and future.

She called on the people, movements and institutions to continue their struggle and oppose policies of denial and extermination against the people, and to continue holding activities in streets and public squares until Leader Ocalan’s freedom is achieved. She said his project is capable of confronting wars and crises.

At the end of her speech, Dawoud pledged to the martyrs and Leader Ocalan that she would continue along the path of freedom and struggle by all means, saying the conspiracy that has continued for 27 years had failed to separate the people from their leader.

The protest concluded with participants chanting, “There is no life without the leader.”

Tirbespiye

In Tirbespiye, participants gathered in front of the city council carrying pictures of Leader Ocalan, as well as Kurdish flags and symbols, before marching through the central market while chanting slogans condemning the international conspiracy and demanding Leader Ocalan’s physical freedom and a democratic political solution that guarantees the rights of the Kurdish people and other communities.

The protesters stopped at the end of the central market in front of the Kongra Star center, where Muntaha Mahmoud, a member of the city’s People’s Initiative, delivered a speech. She said the international conspiracy targeting Leader Ocalan marked the beginning of a policy of suppressing peoples in the Middle East and denying their identities and historical cultures.

She stressed that the rights of the Kurdish people are legitimate and that they would continue defending them, calling on the Turkish state to engage in dialogue with Leader Ocalan and end the Imrali system so that he can lead the peace process.

She stressed that Leader Ocalan’s freedom and constitutional recognition of the rights of the Kurdish people are fundamental demands of the Kurdish people, considering them a solution to ending conflicts and wars in the region.

The protest concluded with participants chanting, “There is no life without the leader.”

Amuda

In the same context, Amuda also witnessed a mass protest attended by residents, civil institutions and the Amuda Council in condemnation of the international conspiracy.

The protest began at the Women’s Roundabout, with participants chanting “There is no life without the leader” and carrying banners expressing their rejection of the international conspiracy.

The protesters marched through the city’s streets before reaching Martyr Jihad Square, where they observed a minute of silence in honor of the martyrs and in remembrance of their sacrifices.

Nirouz Ali, an administrator with the Democratic Union Party (PYD), then delivered a speech stressing the importance of continuing mass activities and expressing popular positions on the issue of Leader Ocalan. She emphasized the need to continue such activities and remain committed to the demands being raised.

Kurdish language teacher Arshak Baravi spoke about the importance of popular participation and the role of society in preserving its cultural and linguistic rights. He stressed the importance of the mother tongue and the need to preserve it and defend the right to education in Kurdish.

At the end of the protest, participants reaffirmed their commitment to continuing to take part in mass activities until Leader Ocalan’s physical freedom is guaranteed.

The protest concluded in Martyr Jihad Square with participants chanting, “There is no life without the leader.”

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ANHA