Kurds from across Europe have gathered in the French city of Strasbourg today to condemn the 15 February plot against Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan. A march and rally has been staged under the main slogan “Freedom for Öcalan, Status for Kurdistan”, which was joined by tens of thousands including revolutionary organisations from Turkey and European friends of Kurds.

Thousands marched from the Central Station of Strasbourg to Parking des Vanneaux where the rally began with a series of speeches which all put emphasis on the importance of Öcalan's role for the achievement of peace in Turkey and Kurdistan, and also condemned the Turkish state's massacre against Kurdish people in Cizre and other North Kurdistan towns under siege.

Speaking here, former President of the EUL/NGL at European Parliament, François Wurtz, voiced solidarity with the Kurdish people's leader and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). Wurtz said they were making efforts for the ending of the bloodshed in Cizre, Silopi and Sur, and called on France, other European states and NATO member countries to take urgent action against the barbarity perpetrated by the Turkish state.

Remarking that North Kurdistan has turned into 'a second Syria', Wurtz strongly criticised Europe's alliance with Erdoğan in return for refugees. He called Erdoğan 'war envoy' and Öcalan 'peace envoy'.

BAYIK: WE WILL FULFILL THE DEMAND OF FREEDOM AT ANY COST

KCK Executive Council Co-President Cemil Bayık who sent a video message to the rally, condemned the international conspiracy and saluted the popular resistance in North Kurdistan. He called upon Kurds in Europe to embrace the resistance in Cizre, Sur and other towns with the spirit manifested by the Kurds in Europe against the international plot in 1999.

Bayık stressed that they will fulfill the Kurdish people and their friends' demand for freedom whatever it may cost, adding; "Erdoğan and some states acting with him want to realize policies of denial and annihilation in Kurdistan. It is being intended today to commit a genocide against the Kurdish people like what was done to Armenians and Assyrians in the past. Huge efforts are being made to reach a conclusion like the Treaty of Lausanne. Yet, our people are resisting this policy and at the cost of a price. An example to this reality is the town of Cizre where humanity has been massacred."

Bayık emphasised that all the victims of Cizre massacre will be avenged, and called upon all Kurds with conscience and honour to raise their voice against the atrocity being committed there. He noted that the AKP state intends to continue with similar massacres in other Kurdish towns, a threat being faced by Şırnak's İdil district today.

KCK executive remarked that resistance will come to a head against the plot and massacres during the year of 2016, adding the followings; "They want to accomplish this plot by isolating Leader Apo (referring to Öcalan) and splitting the people. They also seek to eliminate our movement through the same plot. However, we will defeat this plot as it enters the 18th year and enhance this movement even more."

SARIYILDIZ: ERDOĞAN IS FOLLOW-UP OF SADDAM AND HİTLER

HDP parliamentarian for Şırnak, Faysal Sarıyıldız who spoke later via phone, stated that perpetrators of the February 15 international plot and Cizre massacre are the same. He said “Erdoğan is a follow-up of Hitler who massacred Jews in Germany and Saddam who massacred Kurds in Halabja. Yet, Cizre has not fallen and resistance will continue.”

DİLEK ÖCALAN: THE KURDISH LEADER WILL BE FREE

Speaking after, HDP Urfa parliamentarian Dilek Öcalan started her remarks by condemning the parties involved in the international plot against Kurdish people's leader. She underlined that the plot, however, has failed as Öcalan is free with his ideas today and will attain physical freedom, too, soon.

BINDER: INTERNATIONAL POWERS SHOULD TAKE ACTION AGAINST TURKEY

Karin Binder on behalf of Die Linke, main opposition party of the German parliament Bundestag, who also joined the rally criticised German Chancellor Angela Merkel's recent visit to Turkey and her support to Turkish President Erdoğan. Binder voiced solidarity with the popular resistance for self-rule in North Kurdistan and condemned the attacks and massacres targeting the people in the areas of self-rule.

Binder stressed that European Union's attitude towards Turkey is unacceptable, and called upon international powers to take action against Turkey in order for the ending of the ongoing conflict.