The Villiers Le Bel group, consisting of activists Azad Güneş, Enseri Doyar, İbrahim Kulak and Fırat Riha, took over the ‘Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan Vigil’ in front of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, which has been going on since July 25, 2012.

Azad Güneş, one of the vigil activists, said: “I believe that we should approach Öcalan with self-criticism every moment we live and breathe.”

Güneş said: "The unprecedented resistance of Öcalan, who has been subjected to aggravated isolation for 21 years, against all the state's policies of intimidation, suppression, and crackdown is the biggest reason for the isolation. Since Öcalan does not take a step back, the state attacks and yet encounters the resistance of the ages.”

'ÖCALAN’S PHYSICAL FREEDOM SHOULD BE OUR PRIORITY'

Pointing out that a key election would be soon held in Turkey and North Kurdistan, Güneş said: "Our first priority should be the physical freedom of Öcalan. He is not just a leader who represents a people. He is now an international leader who can offer the greatest alternative to the world state systems.”

Güneş continued: "Öcalan, who offers the paradigm of democratic modernity against capitalist modernity to the peoples of the world, should be freed physically through a joint struggle of the peoples of the world.

Treating the state mentality as a whole, Öcalan studied the origins of the states. He embraced everything that was ignored, excluded and exploited by the states and introduced a new dimension of resistance. Under the current circumstances, defending Öcalan is defending the entire universe, the entire working class, women, youth and children.

Therefore, it is a historical duty and responsibility of the peoples of Kurdistan, the working class of Turkey, women and youth, peoples of the world, workers and young people to stand up for Öcalan. It is time to defend the world-renowned leader, to further universalize his ideas and to secure his physical freedom.”