Ahead of 15 February, the anniversary of Abdullah Öcalan's deportation to Turkey in 1999, there will be several days of demonstrations in different regions in Europe and a demonstration march to the annual major event in Strasbourg. The march demanding freedom for the Kurdish leader, who has been imprisoned for 23 years, starts today in Frankfurt and Basel. Demonstrations took place in several countries on Saturday and will continue today.

Kiel

Activists from Hamburg, Oldenburg and Bremen took part in a long march in Kiel. The demonstration was organised by the Kurdish Community Centre in Kiel and started in the Mettenhof district. The demonstrators demanded the lifting of Abdullah Öcalan's isolation and his release. In addition, attention was drawn to the attacks of the Turkish state on Kurdistan. After a ten-kilometre route, the first day ended at the main station. Today the march continues from Wilk.

Hanover

A two-day march through Hanover began in Langenhagen on Saturday. Hundreds of Kurds and people in solidarity took part in the march organised by Nav-Dem Hannover. Because of the slogan "Bijî Serok Apo" [Long Live Leader Öcalan], the police took the personal details of two participants. The route led to Kröpcke in the city centre. The demonstration continued today at ten o'clock in Laatzen.

Amsterdam

A long march in the Netherlands started on Friday in Zaandam and resumed on Saturday from the central station to Museumplein, where a final rally took place in front of the Turkish consulate. Speeches pointed out the importance of Abdullah Öcalan for a democratic solution of the Kurdish question and protested against the attacks of the Turkish state on Kurdistan.

France

In France, a one-day long march from Hennebont to Lorient took place, condemning the international plot against the Kurdish movement. The activists distributed leaflets during the demonstration and collected signatures as part of the campaign for the removal of the PKK from the EU's "terror list".

Belgium

In Belgium, a two-day demonstration started on Saturday from Leuven to Brussels. Today it will continue from Kortenberg to the European Parliament, where the final rally will take place.