This week, a group of activists from Bielefeld took over the Freedom for Öcalan Vigil, which has been carried out for the past 10 years to ensure the physical freedom of Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan and to end the isolation in Imralı.

İsmail Gümüş, İlhami Ayaz and Serhat Yılmaz are the activists who took over the vigil in its 519th week.

Speaking on behalf of the group, İsmail Gümüş said that they have been actively fighting to achieve the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan since he was jailed in 1999 and added: "European states remain silent about the fact that the leader of the Kurds has been in isolation for years. Our leader has been unable to meet with his family or lawyers for more than 3 years. European states should react to such heavy isolation. We not only want the isolation to end, but also for our Leader to be free. Our leader is fighting for all peoples to live in peace. European states should not ignore this.”

KDP should end its collaboration with Turkey

Gümüş added: “Millions of people around the world demand the physical freedom of the Leader. Instead of considering these demands, Europe supports the enemy in the war against the Kurdish people. European states are providing arms support, while the Barzani family is giving the lands of Kurdistan to the enemy. If the KDP had not given way to the enemy, the Turkish state would not have been unable to enter the territory of Kurdistan. The KDP should not sacrifice the gains of the Kurdish people for money. The Barzani family must turn from this wrong path.2

The activists underlined that “the Kurdish people are standing everywhere in Europe and in Kurdistan,” and added: “The guerrillas continue their uninterrupted resistance. We will continue our struggle until the Leader is free. Our people should participate strongly in the vigil."