A vigil by the Democratic Kurdish Community in Switzerland has been taking place in front of the UN headquarters in Geneva since 25 January 2021. Every Wednesday, activists stage a protest in front of the United Nations building to demand the release of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan. The action is carried out as part of the 'Dem dema azadiye' [Time for Freedom] campaign and directed against the isolation of the Kurdish leader on the Turkish prison island of Imrali, the Turkish occupation attacks on Kurdistan, the massacres committed in Kurdish territories and the silence of the UN.

During this week's demonstration, which is held at a tent set up in Nations Square where the UN Office is located, activists observed a moment of silence in memory of martyrs of the Kurdistan freedom struggle in the person of YPG founding member Xebat Dêrik on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of his martyrdom.

Demonstrators also called for the annulment of the death penalty handed down to Kurdish activist Pakshan Azizi imprisoned in Iran.

Veysel Kuşkanadı made a speech on behalf of the Geneva action committee.  Commemorating Xebat Dêrik, Kuşkanadı stated that for a revolution to succeed, its foundations must be laid firmly. He stated: “Martyr Xebat Dêrik was a pioneer who built one of these solid foundations. He founded an army for the people of the region to defend their existence and structured this army on the basis of self-defense. His sacrifices and the sacrifices of tens of thousands of martyrs have enabled the achievements in Rojava and North-East Syria today and these gains are still being defended.”

Veysel Kuşkanadı stated that 92 civilians have lost their lives and 43 others have been wounded in the last 40 days in the airstrikes carried out by Turkish UCAVs: “We emphasize once again that the isolation of the Kurdish People's Leader cannot be considered independent of the ongoing war in Kurdistan and peace in the Middle East. Mr. Öcalan has become a symbol not only for the Kurdish people but also for peace, democracy and brotherhood of peoples in the Middle East,” he underlined.

Calling for the immediate annulment of the Iranian judiciary's death sentence against Kurdish journalist Pakshan Azizi, Kuşkanadı continued: “The women who fought against death penalty in Iran made it clear that they are not afraid of execution but a life without honor. This stance spread throughout Kurdistan, from Rojhilat to Rojava, from Bakur to Bashûr. The voice of Warisha Moradi and Pakshan Azizi became the voice of all of us. It is time to be a united voice against the execution policy of the Iranian state. Together we must fight against the policies of execution and oppression and defend freedom.”

Speaking after, Yekbûn Güneş, a member of the Kurdish Women's Union in Switzerland (YJK-S) condemned the policies of annihilation and denial pursued by the occupying Turkish state against the people of Kurdistan.

Yekbûn Güneş also condemned the Turkish state’s increasingly ongoing attacks against Tishrin Dam, saying: “Our movement has repeatedly stated that these attacks against Rojava are directed against the entire Kurdish people and especially against the women's revolution. Our people should protect the gains in a spirit of mobilization and solidarity with the people of Rojava and publicize what is happening in the region. With the same responsibility, we must raise our voices by overcoming the walls of darkness and fear and by claiming the Rojava Women's Revolution.”