People's Defence Centre (HSM) Headquarters Commander Murat Karayılan spoke to Gerîla TV on Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan's birthday on April 4, stating the following:

“Dear Gerîla TV audience, I greet you with respect. On behalf of the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla, we, the Central Headquarters, celebrate Öcalan's birthday. April 4 is certainly not just one person's birthday. Öcalan’s birthday is also the birth of a new idea, philosophy, and Kurdistan's march for existence and freedom. It is the birthday of the freedom struggle of our people and other peoples. For this reason, our people, Kurdish women and pro-freedom women embrace this birthday as their own. This is a sound and correct approach as the birth that on April 4 paved the way for a new process in Kurdistan in terms of ideas, thoughts, mobility and struggle.

There have been many uprisings in the history of our people, and these uprisings had leaders, too. Each leader has a place in history. However, the only leader who can create ideas, thoughts and a new paradigm based on contemporary science is Öcalan. He got on the scene of history with a new paradigm combining the Mesopotamian culture and history and current realities. His paradigm offers a new framework for a free society, a democratic society, the women's revolution and the ecological revolution. He shaped the Kurdish women and the Kurdish people as a power and will in Kurdistan. Öcalan offered a new option with his democratic modernity paradigm against capitalist modernity, presenting a new remedy for all peoples. Therefore, the birth that took place on April 4 bears a great meaning for us, our people, peoples and all women. It is right and important to embrace and celebrate it.

As is known, our people march to Amara, the village where Öcalan was born, every year to promote and celebrate this day. There were many incidents including bans and conflicts during previous marches. Our people also gave many martyrs. On April 4, 2019, Mustafa Dağ and Mahsum Karaoğlan were martyred. I commemorate these valued martyrs and remember their memories with respect. We reiterate our promise to the martyrs. Our people have paid the price, but never given up. Leader Öcalan has become an identity and a framework for our people, for all the forces of democracy and freedom, for those who fight for the fraternity and equality of peoples, and for those who promote free women and free society. On behalf of the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla, we would like to congratulate all our people, the women of Kurdistan, and all those who fight for the freedom of Öcalan and Kurdistan on April 4. Happy birthday to all.”