Kurdish people, parties and organizations march every year to the village of Amara in the Halfeti district of Urfa province, where Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan was born on April 4, 1949.

The march "To Amara for Freedom" started today under the leadership of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK), the Free Women's Movement (TJA), the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and the Federation of Law and Solidarity Associations for the Families of Detainees and Convicts (MED TUHAD FED).

Despite the police blockade, people from various cities of Kurdistan and Turkey gathered at the Payamlı crossroad on the Urfa-Antep highway, chanting slogans in favour of Öcalan.

'APRIL 4 IS A HISTORIC DAY FOR THE KURDS'

In a statement made at the crossroad, DBP Co-Chair Saliha Aydeniz defined April 4 as a historic day for the Kurdish people, saying: “Today is a historic day, for which we made an appeal under the motto "To Amara for Freedom". Thousands of people responded to it and set out for Amara. Police blocked them in every province and district. Despite all the obstacles, thousands of people have made it here.”

'THE REBIRTH OF THE KURDISH PEOPLE'

Aydeniz added: “Öcalan’s birthday represents the Kurdish people's rebirth. 100 years ago, the Treaty of Lausanne sought to erase the Kurds from history. Kurdistan was divided into 4 parts. The Kurds were forced to become Arabs, Persians and Turks, but they were reborn on April 4. Therefore, the Kurds and millions of other peoples consider April 4 as the day of democracy, honourable peace and struggle. There are those who want to ban this historic day. Those who crackdown on those who believe in democracy and peace are afraid of Mr. Öcalan's insistence on peace. April 4 represents a rebirth and a historic day. Thousands of people are going to Amara. We will go there despite the police blockade. It is time to recognize the honourable peace that Mr. Öcalan has offered. In order to democratize Turkey, it is necessary to embrace Öcalan, who stated that "If I were given a week, I would solve the Kurdish question". We will take to the streets not just to lift the isolation that has turned into a special regime, but to ensure the physical freedom of Mr. Öcalan.”

DTK Co-Chair Berdan Öztürk said that April 4 means a lot to the Kurdish people, the peoples of Turkey and the Middle East. He continued: “Today, the Kurdish people are celebrating their existence. The Kurds have risen from the ashes. Today marks the birth of the Kurdish people. It is a day for democracy, equality and free life. Öcalan has become the leader of all oppressed peoples. Öcalan's ideas will put an end to the capitalist system. His solution offers will defeat the monist state.”

After the statement, the crowd set out for Amara in a convoy.