Kurds in Europe have been carrying out a vigil demanding freedom for Abdullah Öcalan.

Since 25 June 2012. The vigil is taking place in Strasbourg, in front of the Council of Europe, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and is the longest uninterrupted action carried out by Kurds in Europe.

Every week a different group of Kurdish activists living in different countries of Europe take over the vigil which has entered its 486th week.

This week the vigil has been carried out by members of the Kurdistan Islamic Community (CIK).

Activists hand out leaflets to explain the international conspiracy which led to the capture of the Kurdish people’s leader, as well as Öcalan’s ideas and philosophy.

The members of the Kurdistan Islamic Community (CIK), which is also part of the Mesopotamian Faith Union, that took over the vigil this week are Mele Salih, Mele Kasım, Rojhat Adar, Hıfzı Tori.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Mele Salih underlined that the forces involved in the international conspiracy aimed at liquidating the Kurdish people's freedom struggle.

Mele Salih said: "They thought that by capturing our leader, the Kurdistan Freedom Struggle would end, but Öcalan's resistance in Imrali thwarted the conspiracy."

Salih continued: "The resistance carried out by Öcalan has made the Kurdish people more resistant and stronger. The Kurdistan Freedom Struggle continues to grow."

Mele Salih also spoke about the recent rhetoric of the President of the Turkish state, Recep Erdogan, who said that ‘there is no Kurdish problem’. Salih said: "We have a problem with the mentality that says there is no Kurdish problem. If there is no Kurdish problem, why are they so worried?"

Salih said that the Turkish state hopes to get help against the Kurds by making concessions to America and Russia and added: "The Kurdish problem is shaking their seats and palaces today."