A group of activists from Vienna took over the Freedom for Öcalan Vigil in Strasbourg.

Activists Ozan Şêxanoğlu, Yektan Hîlwan and Bavê Metîn Kobanê are part of the delegation which took over the vigil, which was started by the Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan Initiative on 25 June 2012.

The spokesperson of the group, Ozan Şêxanoğlu, said: "The freedom of our Leader is the freedom of all peoples" and emphasized that all peoples must make an effort to free the Kurdish people's Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Making a call to the European Union and the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), Şêxanoğlu said: “We have not heard from our Leader, who has been in isolation for 24 years, for two years. We have been before the Council of Europe for years. Europe says nothing, sees nothing. They are hypocrites. We want to hear from our Leader immediately."

Şêxanoğlu expressed his condolences to all people for the losses due to the earthquake, and called on the Kurdish people to unite and support the victims.

Şêxanoğlu finally said: "Let's form a circle along the Leader line and liberate him in 2023."