A group of youths from North-East Syria have joined the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla as part of the “Cenga Azadiyê Serbixin” [Win the Freedom War] campaign launched by the youth movement Komalên Ciwan.

According to Nuce Ciwan, the group decided to participate in the struggle in response to the aggravated isolation imposed on Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan on Imrali Prison Island, who has not been heard from for over two years and totally cut off from the outside world.

Concerns over the situation of Öcalan increased after the Executive Council Member of the Kurdistan Democratic Communities Union (KCK), Sabri Ok said in an interview on the Kurdish TV Channel Sterk TV on July 8 that threatening letters had recently been sent to Abdullah Öcalan anonymously via the Imrali prison administration.

Announcing their participation in the ranks of the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla, the group stated that: “The isolation of Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) is getting worse every day and has gone beyond the limit. The merciless fascist state does not allow Leader Apo to send letters from Imrali but sends him itself threatening letters. Threatening a leader who is connected to millions should not be considered as normal by anyone. The matter of isolation concerns the Kurdish people as a whole and all the freedom-loving people. We, as the youth of Kurdistan, see this as a great threat to Leader Apo.”

The statement continued: “When Leader Apo is in question, we can simply consider anything because it is not easy to threaten a leader who has made countless sacrifices. These acts directed against Leader Apo are executed by the Turkish state to make sure that we raise hell with it. The Turkish state will give a serious account and we are here today to call it to account. As youths from North and East Syria, we are participating in the mobilization announced by the Revolutionary Youth Movement and the Union of Young Women. We know that defeating the enemy is the greatest account we can ensure. We join the guerrilla ranks to bring the enemy to account. No one can darken our day. We will send those who lay hands on our values to the trash of history. We call on all youths to come here and claim their values.”