The traditional long march has been started today by the initiative of the Kurdish umbrella youth's movements Jinên Ciwanên Azad (Free Young Women) and Ciwanên Azad (Free Youths) as a prelude to the 25th International Kurdish Culture Festival in Germany that will be held on September 16.

The youth’s movements organized the march within the frame of the "Azad Bike" (Make Free) campaign under the motto "Smash colonialism with revolutionary revenge - Free the Leader".

The march began following a press statement in front of the Democratic Kurdish Society Center in Dortmund, which called attention to the isolation on Öcalan and the goal of the long march.

Speaking on behalf of Ciwanên Azad, Zerdeşt Botan said: “Öcalan is a great leader that secured our existence, defends our language and culture, and protects the Kurds from genocide. Giving a great struggle against the capitalist system and the statist mindset, the Leader has become a prominent alternative around the world with his philosophy.”

KCDK-E (European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress) Co-chair Yüksel Koç and NAV-DEM (Kurdish Democratic Society Centre in Germany) Co-chair Tahir Koçer also joined the press conference and held speeches, in which they called on all everyone to join and support the long march.

Participants of the long march are set to reach the town of Hagen in the evening after covering 20 km during the day. There the youths will hold a panel discussion on the circumstances surrounding Öcalan and the political developments in Kurdistan.