The Great Freedom March, which started from two branches, Kars and Van, on 1 February to demand the physical freedom of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and a democratic solution to the Kurdish question, continues on its 13th day.

Politicians and representatives of democratic mass organizations from the Van and Kars branches of the march converged in Amed (Diyarbakır) today.

DEM Party co-mayoral candidates, Peace Mothers, representatives of civil society organizations gathered in front of Ceylanlar Shopping Center to welcome the participants of the march to the accompaniment of songs, slogans and chants.

Tensions arose as the police blockaded the area during the gathering for the march. The deputies stood arm in arm against the police blockade while the marchers were then greeted with applause and slogans.

DBP (Democratic Regions Party) Co-Chair Keskin Bayındır made a speech during the protest and said, "This march will reach its goal. We have not bowed to your oppression until today and we will not bow down henceforward. You cannot stop our people through oppression and intimidation policies. There are thousands of us here."

DEM (Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party) MP Newroz Uysal said, "To us, every street of Amed is an area of action. We will march street by street and shout out the purpose of the march."

Peace Mothers wearing white headscarves broke through the blockade and greeted the marchers with carnations.

Residents supported the march from the balconies of their houses. The MPs blocked the road when the police attempted to attack the demonstration.

Thanks to the determination of the protesters, the blockade was lifted, and the march began.

The crowd then marched to the central Sur district. Thousands of police officers blockaded the marchers along the way. Despite the obstruction, the enthusiasm was at its peak. People continued to greet the marchers from the balconies of their houses and on the streets.

The police attacked the crowd again during the protest, which was dominated by young people. After a four-hour march, the protesters reached Gazi Street and then marched to the Four-Legged Minaret.

Speaking at the press statement in front of the Four-Legged Minaret, DEM Party MP Newroz Uysal said, "We set out from Van and Kars regardless of snow and winter. We have come all the way here for Mr. Öcalan's freedom and a solution to the Kurdish question. This is the road to Mr. Öcalan's freedom."

DBP Co-Chair Keskin Bayindir said: "We traveled thousands of kilometers and arrived in Amed today. Our people supported us all the way. We thank them all. We want the Kurdish question to be solved in a democratic way, for which Mr. Öcalan is the interlocutor. For centuries, the Kurds have been treated with a policy of denial, assimilation and extermination, but this issue remains unresolved. Today, they have deployed thousands of police officers, but they will never get any results from these policies. This march and resistance are not 13 days old. It started 100 years ago, and this march is its continuation. The problems in Kurdistan and Turkey are getting worse. We call on everyone to find ways and methods to resolve this issue peacefully. No one will get anywhere with this issue. The honorable and peaceful resolution of this question should not be on our shoulders alone. Everyone who wants peace in this country must take on responsibility."

Bayındır emphasized that Kurds have been struggling for 100 years and concluded as follows: "This century has come to this day with the resistance of the Kurdish people. The pioneer of this resistance is Mr. Öcalan. The isolation must be broken and Mr. Öcalan's physical freedom must be ensured. There is no other way than this. Our demand is peace with honor. Our people have supported us from Van to here. We will definitely fulfill the demands of our people." 

The statement ended with slogans and the flying of doves for peace.

The march will end on 15 February in Amara, the village where Abdullah Öcalan was born.