Four people from the German city of Ulm have taken over the Freedom for Öcalan Vigil in front of the Council of Europe building in Strasbourg, France, that began on June 25, 2012 and continues in its 242nd week.

Resmiye Aslan, Spokesperson for the group that took over the vigil on behalf of the Ulm Democratic Kurdish Society Center called on all Kurds in Europe to rise up for the freedom of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, and condemned the European countries for their silence on the aggravated isolation of the Kurdish leader.

Aslan stressed that: “The Kurdish people did not bow down so far, and they won't bow down in the future either.”

Aslan pointed out that Kurdish women must enhance their support for Öcalan who -she said- was a sacred value for the struggle he has been giving for the freedom of the Kurdish women. Aslan called on Kurdish mothers to raise their voice for Öcalan everywhere, and vowed to continue their struggle until the Kurdish leader attains his freedom.

The Freedom for Öcalan Vigil is held in Robertsau district, which is home to the Council of Europe, as well as the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the European Parliament (EP), Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and other such institutions. The vigil continues through all 7 days of the week and is the longest-running demonstration held by Kurds without a single day break in between.

The Vigil began on June 25, 2012, and has continued without a pause since then. In every week of the vigil, Öcalan’s thoughts on the struggles of women, Kurds and humanity are promoted. Protestors have reached out to millions of people so far during the vigil that also attracts the attention of tourists visiting Strasbourg.