The indefinite sit-in launched in Strasbourg with the demand that the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) under the Council of Europe (CoE) which has the authority to visit the Imrali Island respond to the demands for a visit continues with new participants.

Kurds from various cities in Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and France continue their demonstration with various activities throughout the day. From the morning hours, demonstrators start to gather in the tents put up across from the CoE and CPT buildings and chant slogans facing the CoE.

The activists use the slogans “CPT to Imrali” and “Freedom for Öcalan”, demanding that the CPT respond to this urgent demand of the Kurdish people.

PKK’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED

A celebration was held for the foundation anniversary of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) on November 27 as part of the demonstration and Medya Botan gave a speech in the name of the European Kurdish Women’s Movement (TJK-E).

Botan stated that founded by the Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan and his comrades, the PKK has continued with an uninterrupted struggle of 40 years and continued: “Leader Apo founded the PKK and gave the Kurdish people’s search for justice a structure and an organization, allowing the struggle to reach these current levels. Since the day the PKK was founded, it has always stayed true to its founding principles and continued with its stance despite various opportunities that came along the way.”

The TJK-E activist stressed that the PKK has become one with the people and achieved a level of strength that can affect the whole of the Kurdish people and the peoples of the Middle East. She added: “After Leader Apo’s efforts for us, it is our most important duty as a people and as a movement to ensure our Leader’s physical freedom. That is why here in Strasbourg we will not end our demonstration until we achieve positive results.”

After TJK-E activist Medya Botan’s speech, sit-in participants sang and danced halay in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the PKK.

The indefinite sit-in was launched on October 23, and dozens of people from various cities in four countries pour into Strasbourg every day. Over a thousand people have participated in the demonstration to date while tens of thousands have visited.

There has been an ongoing Freedom for Öcalan Vigil demonstration held since June 25, 2012 in the area the sit-in is now held in.