15 February marks the anniversary of the international conspiracy that led to the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan’s abduction to Turkey in 1999. Since then, Öcalan has been held as a political hostage on the prison island of Imrali, most of the time under conditions of total isolation. Kurds and their friends are going into action all around the world to demand the lifting of Abdullah Öcalan's incommunicado detention and the resumption of peace negotiations and conditions for the Kurdish leader in which he can live and work freely in order to contribute to the solution of the Kurdish question. 

Guerrillas from the People’s Defense Forces (HPG) and Free Women’s Troops (YJA Star) spoke to ANF on the upcoming anniversary of the international conspiracy, vowing to keep their struggle going to the very end.

HPG guerrilla Tekoşer Farqîn: Several countries took part in the international conspiracy, including Russia, which calls itself socialist. Many states claiming to be friends of the Kurds also turned out to be a party to the conspiracy. The captivity of our leader in the hands of the enemy for 25 years is a painful experience for the peoples of the world. No news has been received for a long time from our leader who is subjected to aggravated isolation and torture on Imrali within the knowledge of the CPT (Committee for the Prevention of Torture). Our people in four parts of Kurdistan, in Europe and beyond are taking action to live in a free country with their leader in 2023. His captivity means the captivity of all peoples.

All peoples are taking part in the PKK’s revolution today and this has been achieved thanks to Öcalan’s ideology, in which we have also found our reality. While the enemy suppressed all the Kurdish uprisings in the past, a new mindset emerged with the action of the leader and founding of our party, the PKK. We are leading society with this awareness today. We must prepare ourselves for the leader’s physical freedom in 2023 in the scope of the “Dem Dema Azadiyê ye” [Time for Freedom] campaign launched by our party.

YJA Star guerrilla Hebûn Dilsoz: 15 February is a dark day for the Kurdish people. While the leader has been struggling on Imrali for 25 years now, the guerrilla resistance is growing even stronger with his struggle. People rose up, got to know themselves and united thanks to his struggle. As a member of the Arab nation, I condemn the conspiracy against the leader which sought to create a conflict between the Kurdish and Arab peoples, but failed. On the contrary, Kurdish and Arab peoples united and their relations grew stronger. Today, they are fighting together for the freedom of Kurdistan. Both the guerrillas and the people dream of leading a free life with the leader.

YJA Star guerrilla Besê Anûş: I condemn the international conspiracy which is a bitter experience for the Kurds and other peoples. As guerrillas of YJA Star, our goal is to defeat the conspiracy and achieve the freedom of the leader, who is our sun and without whom we cannot live. As guerrillas, we aim to frustrate all the plots directed against the Kurdish people. We also condemn the states involved in the conspiracy and we will continue our resistance to defeat the conspiracy.

HPG guerrilla Fûat Mahabad: Through the international conspiracy, the enemy sought to destroy the PKK but the struggle of the Kurds resonates around the globe today. This is achieved thanks to the ideology and philosophy of the leader. As guerrillas, our aim for 2023 is to ensure the leader’s freedom. Any action to this end is meaningful. The Kurdish youth should join the guerrilla ranks.

HPG guerrilla Fırat Çiyager: The Kurdish people have been fighting for many years with the ideology developed by the leader. The ongoing fight in Zap, Avaşin and Metina takes strength and morale from the leader’s resistance on Imrali. As the guerrillas of Kurdistan, we will successfully uphold our responsibilities to respond to the attacks of the enemy. We will enhance our struggle to ensure the physical freedom of the leader.

YJA Star guerrilla Peyman Dilsoz: 15 February is a dark day for us. However, the enemy cannot darken our sun, no matter what he does. The leader has been held captive for 25 years but does not compromise on his struggle. We follow in his footsteps and we will continue our lives with his light.