The people of Kurdistan traditionally celebrate the birthday of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is imprisoned on the prison island of Imrali, with planting trees. As in previous years, the security forces of the Turkish state tried this year to prevent the celebration of the birthday of Öcalan. Particularly serious conditions were reported from the homeland of Abdullah Öcalan, the district of Xelfetî (Halfeti) in the province of Urfa (Riha).

Those heading to the village of Amara, the birthplace of the Kurdish leader, were prevented from entering the village to mark Ocalan's 69th birthday. The birthplace of Öcalan had already been encircled by the gendarmerie a week earlier. Also in the center of Halfeti and Urfa, the military blocked the route to Amara.

Dozens of people, including DTK co-chair Berdan Öztürk and several members of the HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party), who traveled to Halfeti on Monday despite all the obstacles, were effectively placed under house arrest by Turkish security forces. With armored military vehicles, the gendarmerie prevented the people from leaving the party building of the HDP in Halfeti. In the village of Amara, the military stormed the home of Mehmet Ocalan, brother of Abdullah Ocalan, on Tuesday night. Five people were detained in the raid and they were released afterwards. Among the detainees were the co-chair of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), Bekir Karakeçili, and journalist and correspondent of the Mesopotamia News Agency, Hacı Yusuf Topaloğlu.

While the Kurdish population was systematically prevented from reaching Amara, Dilek Ocalan, a deputy of the HDP and niece of the Kurdish People's Representative, made a statement in Öcalan's birthplace. Dilek Öcalan criticized the actions of the security forces and congratulated the imprisoned Öcalan on his 69th birthday. The village was literally besieged and violence was used against several villagers.

"We thank our people, who despite all obstacles found a way to come here. As you know, the pressure has risen so much that even the house we were in last night was stormed by the gendarmerie. A total of nine people have been detained in Amara. Despite the repression, we will fight for Öcalan and resolutely continue our fight. We wish all the people all the best on the occasion of the birthday of the Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan."