The Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan Initiative launched the Freedom for Öcalan Vigil in Strasbourg on 25 June 2012.

Every week, a group of Kurds from different European countries takes over the vigil.

In its 611th week, Ali Binici, Medine Çobanoğlu, Baran Esen and Nevzet Göktaş from the city of Salzgitter in Lower Saxony, took over the vigil.

Medine Çobanoğlu said: "Our leader has been isolated by the enemy for 25 years. We must protect our leader no matter what. The Kurdish people cannot be free unless our leader is free."

Ali Binici said that they have been protesting in front of European institutions for the freedom of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan for 12 years.

Binici also drew attention to the upcoming local elections in Turkey (on 31 March) and called on the Kurdish people to vote for the DEM Party.