Launched on 25 June 2012 in Strasbourg, by the Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan Initiative, the Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan Vigil continues in its 666th week.

The action, carried out to secure the physical freedom of Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan and to dismantle the Imralı Genocide System, has been sustained through weekly rotations by Kurdish people and their allies living in Europe. The vigil this week has been taken over by artist Seydo Gimgim, as well as activists Sefa Tahtacı, and Fırat Coşan from Marseille, France.

Artist Seydo Gimgim, speaking on behalf of the group, extended Newroz greetings to the Kurdish guerrilla forces and to the martyrs of Kurdistan, especially Mr. Öcalan. He stated that they are taking over this sacred vigil as representatives of the Marseille Democratic Kurdish Community Center. Gimgim continued: “As you all know, this vigil has been carried out for 13 years in front of the European Parliament for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan. However, the isolation imposed on Öcalan continues at the hands of the Turkish state. As responsible and patriotic individuals, we will not abandon this action. Until Mr. Öcalan is free. We will not step back from this vigil—on the contrary, we will expand and strengthen it.’’

Seydo Gimgim pointed out that Mr. Öcalan has initiated a new process through the Imralı Delegation and emphasized that this is a process the entire Kurdish people must embrace. Gimgim noted that this phase is different from previous efforts and stated: “This is a process aimed at achieving the physical freedom of Mr. Öcalan. For that reason, as the Kurdish people, we must engage in this process by thoroughly reading and internalizing Abdullah Öcalan’s ideas.”