KONGRA-GEL (People's Congress of Kurdistan) was founded in November 2003 with the aim of representing the rights of Kurds more effectively. The organization is committed to peaceful forms of action and strives for a democratic process in the Middle East and the diaspora. In its program, KONGRA-GEL outlaws the use of violence for nationalist motives and presents proposals for a non-violent solution to change the lives of Kurds in the Middle East.

KONGRA-GEL Co-presidency Council issued a statement on the occasion of the anniversary of the abduction of Abdullah Öcalan to Turkey on February 15, 1999. KONGRA-GEL condemned all the forces involved in the international plot and said the states involved have "taken a place on the dark pages of human history”.

The statement by KONGRA-GEL includes the following:

"The powers involved in the plot wanted to sacrifice the liberation struggle of the people of Kurdistan to their own state interests in the person of Abdullah Öcalan. However, right at the beginning, our people and our party formed a shield of fire around Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] with their actions and thus frustrated the plot.

On this occasion, in the person of the martyr Halil Oral, we commemorate all the heroes and the martyrs of the process and bow with respect before their memories. We reiterate our promise for the freedom of Leader Apo and the people of Kurdistan.

Under British leadership, European states partitioned Kurdistan during World War I and tore its people apart. Kurdistan was handed over to four occupying states without rights and status. The Kurdish people rebelled several times against the occupiers for their freedom. However, the European states did not want to change the status from the First World War. Confronted with the demands of the Kurdish people, they have always supported the Turkish state. The occupying states have torn the Kurdish people apart with their policies and weakened them in all areas of life.

Against this policy of the capitalist and imperialist states, the people of Kurdistan have organized themselves under the leadership of Rêber Apo. They have broken the genocidal siege and changed the balance of power in the Middle East.

For this reason, Rêber Apo has become the target of an international conspiracy of the capitalist and imperialist states. With his capture, they wanted to defeat the liberation movement and install their own system in Kurdistan and the Middle East. However, through Rêber Apo's resistance, the plot has been foiled. In the meantime, his paradigm of freedom is known worldwide.

It is important for the people of Kurdistan and their friends to understand the international plot in this context. The plot has not led to any results, therefore the fascist system of the Turkish state is in chaos and in a big crisis. Not because it is strong, but out of fear of defeat, it is attacking the people and the liberation movement with all means and isolating Rêber Apo.

The fascist Turkish state regime is in a process of decline. If the people of Kurdistan and their friends organize themselves in the right way and a mobilization aimed at success takes place, we can defeat fascism and achieve the freedom of Rêber Apo and our people.

For this reason, our liberation movement has launched the campaign "Time for Freedom". This campaign is a response to the development process that is taking place, everything is for Rêber Apo's freedom. On this occasion, we salute the prison resistance and all the actions for Rêber Apo's freedom that are being carried out in the four parts of Kurdistan and abroad.

In order to protest against the international plot from February 1 to 15, a rich planning has been elaborated. The signatures collected for Rêber Apo’s freedom will be sent to the United Nations. Participation in the decentralized actions is very important. Everyone should feel responsible and participate in the respective local activities.

In this strategic phase, our struggle against the plot will determine the situation of the peoples of Kurdistan and the Middle East. Therefore, the freedom of Rêber Apo must be the focus of everyone's work. His freedom means the freedom of the peoples of Kurdistan and the Middle East.

The resistance of Rêber Apo, our people and our movement, the crisis experienced by the fascist enemy and the developments in Kurdistan and the Middle East increase our chances of success. Our struggle in the coming year is based on this. We wish success to the people of Kurdistan and their friends in the 23rd year of our struggle against the international plot."