Kurds in Düsseldorf and Kiel protested the "international conspiracy" carried out against Abdullah Öcalan 24 years ago. The Kurdish people’s leader was kidnapped in Kenya and brought to Turkey on 15 February 1999 by a NATO-coordinated secret service conspiracy and has since been held hostage on the prison island of Imrali in the Sea of Marmara.

"It was a black day that we will never forget," Şevîn Sincer said at the start of the march. Sincer is co-chair of the Federation of Kurdish Associations in North Rhine-Westphalia (FED-MED), which organized the demonstration in Düsseldorf together with the Kurdish women's association YJK-E.

The demonstration moved through downtown Düsseldorf. A statement by the Kurdish community about the conspiracy was read over loudspeakers. The statement reminded of Öcalan's month-long odyssey in Europe between 1998 and 1999 and his search for political asylum for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question. The statement said: “He was denied both. Numerous European countries have feared being involved in any way in a dialogue process for democracy, equality and peace in Kurdistan. That was a missed opportunity. Instead of opening channels for a solution to the Kurdistan question, Europe has become complicit in the plot by participating in it.”

In a final appeal, the Council of Europe's Committee on the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the United Nations were asked to work to ensure that the Imrali system is abolished immediately.

Demonstration in Kiel

In Kiel, too, there was a demonstration for his freedom.

The march started in the Mettenhof district west of Kiel and headed to the train station. Speakers emphasized that the Kurdish resistance against the system of isolation and oppression will continue. Another demonstration will be held today, Sunday.