Despite all the obstructions by Turkish forces, hundreds have today managed to reach Amara village in Urfa's Halfeti district to celebrate the birthday of Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan.

DTK co-chairs Leyla Güven and Hatip Dicle, executives of TUHAD-FED, HDP deputies Alican Önlü, Osman Baydemir, Gülser Yıldırım, Mahmut Toğrul, Feleknaz Uca, Behçet Yıldırım, Müslüm Doğan and Dilek Öcalan, as well as administrators of Urfa HDP-DBP provincial and district branches also attended the event in the Kurdish leader's village. The celebration took place in the house where Öcalan was born, starting with one minute's silence and the Kurdish anthem "Çerxa Şoreşê".

Holding the opening speech here, TUHAD-FED co-chair Mehmet Temizyüz saluted the popular resistance in the areas of self-rule, and strongly criticized the governor of Urfa for imposing a ban on events and activities to mark Öcalan's birthday.

Speaking after, HDP Urfa deputy Osman Baydemir also thanked everyone that managed to reach Amara in spite of all the hindrances they have faced on their way. Describing the province of Urfa as a holy land and birthplace of humanity, Baydemir mentioned Kurdish leader Öcalan as one of the most prominent people born in these lands.

The Kurdish leader's niece, HDP's Urfa MP Dilek Öcalan, put emphasis on the importance of today for the future of all folks, and she strongly criticized the obstacles created against events to mark his birthday.

Speaking after, DTK Co-chair Hatip Dicle said they are attending today's celebration as representatives of millions, and saluted the Kurdish leader in İmralı from his birthplace, Amara. Recalling that the Kurdish people view Öcalan as their strategic leader today, Dicle said the approach towards Öcalan is therefore addressed to all the Kurdish people.

Calling attention to the efforts to assimilate Kurds under the policy of Turkification, Dicle pointed out that Kurds defending freedom have faced continuous attempts to enslave them.

Stressing that Öcalan has never bowed to the sovereign powers, Dicle said the Kurdish leader created a splendid and invincible organisation of resistance, and defined him as the architect of peace and leader of a political life that enables a free, peaceful and fraternal co-existence, as has been implemented and accomplished in Rojava, West Kurdistan.