The "Freedom and Democracy" rally organized by the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Istanbul Provincial Organization on Sunday saw the participation of thousands of people.

The rally was also attended by politicians who staged the "Great Freedom March" to demand the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, who is held in total isolation in Imrali Island Prison in the Sea of Marmara and has not been heard from for 35 months.

The Great Freedom Marchers took the stage together with the mothers holding a Justice Watch with the same demand and greeted the masses.

Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Keskin Bayındır demanded freedom for Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan in his speech at the rally.

Bayındır, who also took part in the "Great Freedom March" launched for the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and a solution to the Kurdish question, recalled that thousands of people had to migrate to metropolises in Turkey due to the burning of Kurdish villages 30 years ago.

"They were saying that they would destroy the Kurds and Kurdish organizations. Those who said this; look at this square, look at this state of organization, look at this freedom square," Bayındır said.

Referring to the Great Freedom March staged in Kurdistan between February 1-15, Bayındır said, "We came together with our heroic and resilient people in Kurdistan, province by province, district by district, village by village. Today, Istanbul is giving voice to this march for freedom. Kurdistan and Turkey are saying 'freedom' for Kurds and Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan." 

Noting that Kurdish was labeled as an "unknown language" in the Parliament of Turkey, Bayındır said, "Today we speak our language in the squares in Istanbul. They say 'speak Kurdish, but speak it at home.' Today we speak our language here. We are Kurds, we are from Kurdistan."

Referring to the hunger strike of PKK and PAJK prisoners in Turkish prisons, which has been ongoing since 27 November , Bayındır said: "Today is the day of freedom and winning. Today is the day to stand up. Today is our day. This is our time. There has been a hunger strike in prisons for 3 months. Thousands of our comrades are on hunger strike in tens of prisons. They are resisting in dungeons, we are resisting on the streets. We send greetings to those resisting in prisons. We resist oppression. For 100 years we have not bowed our heads and we will not bow today. This stance will definitely reach its goal. Those who miscalculate, those who think they can subjugate the Kurds should look at this square."

Bayındır stated that Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan is the interlocutor for the solution of the Kurdish question and continued: "He is not far away. He is in İmralı. We will break the door of Imrali and provide a solution. We do not accept this isolation. If you don't want war and enmity, lift this isolation. The interlocutor of the Kurdish people is clear. And that is Mr. Öcalan. We send greetings to İmralı from here. Our struggle in Kurdistan will succeed. Do not make wrong calculations. Kurds want their rights. Kurds want a solution to the problem with their interlocutors."