76 internationalists from 15 countries around the world gathered in Luxembourg to march to Strasbourg for the freedom of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan. The march started with a press statement. Peter Müller who read the statement for the marchers called on EU institutions and the CPT to fulfill their duties for Öcalan.

The Long March held with the slogan Freedom for Öcalan, Status for Kurdistan starts today following the press statement read in front of the European Council of Justice in Luxembourg today. The march will continue for 10 days. 76 people from 15 countries, including artist Sarah Mauriaucourt from France, doctor Daniel Maraz from Argentina, historian Joaquín Martínez from Spain, Rojava Azadi Plataforma representative Roc Peris from Catalonia, activist Susana Isabel Macedo Gomez from Portugal, Julia Iglesias from the Newroz Kurdish-Basque Solidarity Association, Igarki Robles (Askapena) and Maialen Kortabarria (Hala Bedi Radio) from the Basque Country, are attending the march.

“WE ARE MARCHING FOR THE FREEDOM OF ÖCALAN”

Kurds and allies arrived in Luxembourg early in the morning and held a press conference in front of the European Council of Justice before the march. Interest from European press was high for the press statement read by Peter Müller from the preparation committee. Müller stated that they will march for 10 days for Öcalan’s freedom and continued: “We will march 10 days from here to Strasbourg, where on the 11th of February, we will join all the others and march together with thousands for the freedom of Öcalan and status for Kurdistan. Every day, we will march 20 to 30 kilometers and on our way, we will visit important institutions. In the evenings we will also have seminars and debates. We are aiming to garner international support to communicate to the AKP that the fate of Öcalan is not so much a national matter for Turkey alone, it is a matter of international concern. Therefore, any harm done to him will draw international outrage and public condemnation.”

Müller added: “This also depends on the freedom of all political prisoners, including Öcalan. And thereby, we call upon EC and CPT to fulfill their related missions. We call upon the institutions and individuals who uphold the universal values of democracy, freedom, justice, peace and human rights to be in solidarity with our demands.”

CRITICISM FOR EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Committee representatives from countries like Denmark, Germany, Portugal and France spoke after Müller’s speech and protested the AKP government. The speeches harshly criticized European countries’ trade and arms deals with Turkey. Messages of solidarity were given for the people of Rojava and the Kurdish people.

The march started with slogans of “Bijî Serok Apo” and “Jin Jiyan Azadî”.