The "International Condemnation of Conspiracy and Freedom for Leader Apo" march, which was planned at the central level last February but postponed due to the earthquake in Northern Kurdistan, Turkey and Rojava, will take place in Düsseldorf, Germany, on Saturday, 15 April. The European-based march will start at 11 am from Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 34-38, Düsseldorf.

Representatives of organizations made a joint statement on behalf of the Democratic Union of Forces calling for participation in the demo. The press conference was attended by Yüksel Koç (KCDK-E), Zübeyde Zümrüt (KON-MED), Maryam Fathi (KJAR Europe), Artin Zahedî (PJAK Europe), Yusuf Demir (ADHK representative), Hafiz Turhali (CIK), Demir Celik (FEDA) Ali Mitel (AvEG-KON), Ayten Kaplan (TJK-E), Endercan Ekin (European Revolutionary Commune Assemblies), Engin Sever (KON-MED) and Sevin Sincar (FED-MED). The statement was read out in Kurmanji, Dimiliki and Turkish.

Delivering the opening speech, Yüksel Koç, co-chair of the European Kurdistan Democratic Societies Congress (KCDK-E), raised concern over the aggravated isolation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and emphasized the importance of broad participation in Saturday’s demo by the Kurds living in Europe.

Zübeyde Zümrüt, co-chair of the largest umbrella organization of the Kurdish Diaspora in Germany, KON-MED, started her speech by condemning the isolation of Öcalan. She said: “We can't receive any news from Öcalan. Let us be a voice for Öcalan together. We urge all our people all over Europe to participate in the march to be held in Dusseldorf on April 15. We cannot talk about democratization unless the isolation is lifted and journalists and political prisoners are released. We cannot talk about democratization unless the isolation is broken.”

Hafız Turhalli, co-chairman of the Islamic Community of Kurdistan (Civaka Îslamiya Kurdistan, CÎK) said: “The Kurdish people will not be free unless the isolation of Öcalan is lifted.”

Ayten Kaplan, spokesperson for the Association of Kurdish Women in Germany (YJK-E), denounced the aggravated isolation regime imposed on Öcalan and called for social awareness.

Demir Çelik, co-chair of the Federation of Democratic Alevis (FEDA), said: “On behalf of the Democratic Alevi Federation and the Mesopotamian Faiths, we condemn the isolation of Mr. Öcalan. We do not accept the isolation regime he is subjected to, which is at the same time imposed on all faiths.”

Sevin Sincar, co-chair of FED-MED, the Mesopotamia Free Society Federation, said: “It is time to liberate Öcalan. We call on all our people to attend the central march in Düsseldorf.”

Below is the list of the organizations that call for participation in Saturday’s march:

1. Alternative Black Sea Initiative

2. European Federation of Democratic Dersim Unions (ADEF)

3. European Confederation of Democratic Rights (ADHK)

4. European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress (KCDK-E)

5. European Revolutionary Democratic Commune Initiative (ADDKİ)

6. European Confederation of Oppressed Migrants (AvEG-KON)

7. European Kurdish Women's Movement (TJKE)

8. European Confederation of Turkish Workers (ATIK)

9. European Revolutionary Commune Assemblies (ADKM)

10. Democratic Alevi Federation (FEDA)

11. Dersim Construction Congress (DİK)

12. European Yazidi Coordination

13. Central Anatolian Kurds Platform (PKAN)

14. Maraş Associations Federation (MARDEF)

15. Mesopotamian People's Congress

16. Mesopotamian Freedom Party (MEP)

17. Nor Zartonk - Europe

18. Socialist Refoundation Party – Europe (SYKP Europe)

19. Xeta Sor

20. World to Live

21. Green and Left Party Europe

22. Gorran (Change) Movement

23. Kongra Star - Europe

24. Partiya Zahmetkêşan – South Kurdistan

25. Syria Kurdish Democratic Party

26. Yazidi Freedom and Democracy Party (PADÊ)

27. Freedom Movement (Tevgêra Azadi)

28. Democratic Unity Party (PYD)

29. Kurdistan Islamic Party (PIK)

30. Communist Party of Kurdistan (KKP)

31. Kawa Movement

32. Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK)

33. Kurdistan Revolutionary Union

34. Democratic and Free Society of East Kurdistan (KODAR)

35. East Kurdistan Women's Association (KJAR)

36. Horam Platform

37. Zagros Platform

38. Yarsan Platform

39. Yari Kurd

40. Kurdish Culture and Art Movement (Tev-Çand)

41. Yazidi Associations Union Center (NAV-YEK)

42. Kurdish Institute in Germany

43. Kurdish Institute in Brussels

44. Shengal Overseas Assembly (MŞD)

45. Kurdistan Teachers Union (YMK)

46. Syria Yazidi Union (YES)

47. Umbrella Organisation of Yazidi Women's Councils

48. Mesopotamian Peoples’ Congress

49. Mesopotamian Freedom Party

50. Kurdistan National Congress (KNK)

51. Kurdische Communities in Stuttgart

52. German Kurdish Forum