The Freedom for Öcalan Vigil was launched in Strasbourg on 25 June 2012. The action is taken over every week by Kurds living in Europe and their friends.

This week, the 649th, was taken over by a group of activists from Aarau. The group, which consists of members of the Basel Democratic Kurdish Society Center, includes Mahsum Özer, Serhat Kanat and Hasan Hüseyin Şahin.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Mahsum Özer said that the Kurdish people have been holding the vigil in front of the European Council for Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] for 13 years.

Mahsum Özer said: "Our Leader has been held in prison for 26 years and has been subjected to absolute isolation for 4 years. We condemn the occupying Turkish state that has imposed this isolation on our Leader."

The activist added: "We call out to international institutions that claim to defend human rights. We especially want the CPT (Committee for the Prevention of Torture) and the Council of Europe to implement their own laws. We want them to speak out against the brutality imposed on the Kurdish people and Kurdistan, and the usurpation of our municipalities. On the other hand, Kurds living in the diaspora, as well as those living in Kurdistan, must stand up for our Leader. The physical freedom of our Leader is directly linked to our freedom. The isolation imposed on our Leader undoubtedly is reflected on the entire Kurdish people. We call out to the entire public opinion to stand against the oppression and isolation practices of the AKP fascist government, and speak out. Our resistance will always continue. We will continue our actions, mobilization and vigil everywhere until our leadership is freed."