Thousands of people from Qamishlo gathered at the Wheat Depot Intersection of Qamishlo's Antariya neighborhood for a march to condemn the February 15 1999's conspiracy against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan on its 18th anniversary.

Northern Syria Democratic Federation Co-president Hediye Yusif, Cizir Canton Executive Council Co-president Abdulkerim Saruxan and other officials participated in the march, where protestors carried signs that read "Freedom for Leader Öcalan, Status for Kurdistan", "Long Live İmrali Resistance, Down With Conspirator Powers", "You Cannot Darken Our Sun" and "Öcalan's Freedom is Our Freedom." Protestors chanted the slogan "No Life Without the Leader" and held a moment of silence when they reached the Peoples' House building.

After the moment of silence, Hediye Yusif addressed the protestors and said "We are a society with a will. Nobody can darken our Sun. Öcalan began this journey alone, now millions of people are following in his footsteps. His philosophy and ideas are behind this cause and we are walking towards victory on the path that the light of his philosophy illuminates. The fascists that have enmity towards Kurds and try to erase us from history must know that they cannot stand against a people that has a philosophy because Kurds grew strong and formed their will through Öcalan’s idea of democratic nation. Öcalan’s ideas of co-existence and democratic nation helped the Kurdish people defeat the conspiracy. With the conspiracy, they thought they could eliminate these ideas and people, but on the contrary, these ideas have reached millions and enabled people to see the truth and to advance on the enemy with their anger. The entire world knows and accepts the righteous cause of the Kurds. Our people will not backtrack on their legitimate struggle. With its attacks on our land and people, Turkey tries to continue the conspiracy. The people are resisting these attacks with the project of democratic nation and coexistence developed by Öcalan. Kurdish people defeated the conspiracy through the ideas of our Leader who created a new philosophy of life which we have expressed everywhere in order to put the Democratic Federation System into practice."

Speaking after, Cizir Canton Executive Council Deputy President Hisên Ezam emphasized his happiness at participating in the march as an Arab and said: "I condemn the conspiracy against Öcalan. The conspirators aimed to leave Öcalan’s ideas in the dark but it is evident that this is impossible. We know that the conspiracy against Öcalan was a conspiracy against all peoples. We saw what kind of plots imperialist powers had for societies. They can no longer rule these societies. Öcalan can no longer be imprisoned. I call upon all international organizations and human rights institutions to take action for Öcalan’s freedom. They should fulfill their responsibility. It is time for all of us to ensure the physical freedom of Öcalan."

Lastly, Kongreya Star administrator Henîfe Mihemed addressed the protestors and said that Öcalan may be imprisoned physically but his ideas spread in society, and everyone should enhance the struggle for Öcalan’s freedom.