The South Kurdistan Committee for the Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan made a statement regarding the prevention of a demonstration against the international conspiracy that led to Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan’s abduction from Kenya and handover to Turkey on 15 February 1999.

According to the statement, the security forces in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) prevented a protest demonstration planned in Sulaymaniyah on the 25th anniversary of the international conspiracy yesterday.

The Committee pointed out that not only was the demonstration prevented, also as many as 30 people, including the co-chairs of Tawgera Azadi and 3 journalists, were taken into custody. Many other journalists were driven away from the scene of the planned demonstration,

“We understand the occupying Turkish state’s threats against the administration and the people of Sulaymaniyah, and the political situation. Still, in the event that Turkey uses the pretext of protecting its national security to exert pressure, we, with a revolutionary will, will make it clear to the leadership of South Kurdistan that those who oppose the campaign for the freedom of Leader Öcalan are violating the principles of national morality,” said the statement.

The Committee pointed out that: “Anyone who opposes the 'Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan' campaign will be a party to the conspiracy against the freedom movement in North Kurdistan and its leader. All parties who cooperate with the occupying Turkish state on this issue, whether in the past, present or future, will be opening their national history to question. Leader Öcalan's freedom will lead to the solution of the Kurdish question in the four parts of Kurdistan."