The people of Van are preparing for the Gemlik march that will take place on Saturday to break the Imrali isolation. While the HDP-led march continues, HDP Provincial co-chair Handan Karakoyun mentioned the importance of the Gemlik march and called for the people of Van to participate.

Karakoyun noted that there has been constant pressure, detention and arrests against Kurdish politics, and that this is a state policy implemented by every government.

“Nine of our friends were arrested recently. Our friends were there as representatives of civil society and observer delegations. They also forwarded the reports they wrote on this subject to the government. These activities are now criminalized. Just like the Kobanê case is a conspiracy, this case is a conspiracy. Our friends must be released immediately. We consider this situation as a political decision by the current government.”

We are marching to Gemlik

Emphasizing the importance of the Gemlik march that will take place on Saturday, Karakoyun said: “We continue our struggle to end the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan. There are a lot of deaths in prisons. We are walking to Gemlik at 12 pm on Saturday to demand an end to these. We are on our way to Gemlik against the isolation, deaths and deepening political crises. We call on all our people to attend the march.”