The Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chair Berdan Öztürk, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Saliha Aydeniz, Free Women's Movement (TJA), Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), the Families of Prisoners and Convicts-Law and Solidarity Associations Federation (MED TUHAD FED) organized a press conference to address April 4, the birthday of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan. Members of the Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD) and HDP MP Remziye Tosun also attended the press conference held at the MED TUHAD FED office in Amed (Diyarbakır).

'WE DO NOT ACCEPT ISOLATION AND SILENCE'

The joint statement, read out by MED TUHAD FED Co-Chair Safiye Akdağ, called attention to the aggravated isolation of Öcalan. Akdağ said: “Kurdish leader Mr. Abdullah Öcalan has been kept under heavy isolation in the prison on the island of İmralı for the last 24 years. Despite hundreds of applications submitted by his lawyers and his family to meet him, which remained unanswered, no information could be obtained from him, except a short phone call that was suddenly cut off on March 25, 2020. The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) did not release any information about its last visit to the prison. This practice and silence towards the reactions of the democratic public violate national and international laws as well as all human values.

'ÖCALAN OFFERS A DEMOCRATIC SOLUTION'

Akdağ continued: “The impact of Mr. Öcalan's ideas concerning the Kurdish question on the peoples of the Middle East and the world are well-known. In Newroz 2013, millions of people flocked to Newroz where his letter was read out. The darkest period in the history of Turkey and Kurdistan began after the demolition of the negotiation table by the AKP's Erdogan. Vicious policies, murders, torture, arrests and injustices have targeted the Kurdish people, individuals and democratic institutions in a ruthless and continuous manner.

The Kurdish people and their friends condemned the isolation of Mr. Öcalan in the areas on March 8 and 21 March, Newroz. The Kurds and other peoples flocked to the areas in Kurdistan and all over the world, demanding the freedom of Mr. Öcalan and all the prisoners of freedom, and reiterated that Mr. Öcalan was the main interlocutor for a democratic solution. For the Kurdish people, the peoples of the Middle East and the pro-freedom peoples of the world, Mr. Öcalan's birthday, April 4, has become a symbol of peace against war and freedom against slavery. It has become a symbol of equality against oppression."

'WE WILL GO TO AMARA TOGETHER'

Akdağ noted that every year celebrations and different programs were held on April 4, trees were planted, and marches to Amara were organized. She gave information on this year’s program and said: “This year, we will go to Amara together under the motto 'To Amara for Freedom'. We favour safety, health and freedom of the physical environment, which is the most natural, national and social desire of our Kurds and all pro-freedom peoples. We call on the public to participate in the Amara march for a democratic and peaceful solution to break the isolation. Based on a continuous and effective struggle, we will lift the isolation together and realize the physical freedom of Mr. Öcalan.”

TREE PLANTING AND CELEBRATIONS IN VARIOUS CITIES

Concerning the April 4 program, Akdağ said: “Tree planting ceremonies and celebrations will take place between April 1-10 in various cities and the march towards Amara will be staged on April 4.”

Speaking after, DBP Co-Chair Saliha Aydeniz said: “April 4 is the birthday of Mr. Öcalan and the Kurdish people. Mr. Öcalan is not an ordinary person for the Kurdish people. He advocates for the Kurdish people's status, equal life, language, culture, self-government in their own land. April 4 is an important date for the Kurdish people. We are going through an important historical period. On the one hand, the isolation has been aggravated gradually, which has turned into an absolute lack of communication, especially in the last two years. On the other hand, as the isolation has deepened, war and hostility against the Kurds have escalated. We are welcoming April 4 at a time when the politics that insist on war, isolation and hostility to peoples has come to a deadlock and become self-destructive.”

'WE CALL ON ALL OUR PEOPLE'

Aydeniz continued: “We have made it very clear that we do not accept isolation. We call on all our people to participate in the celebration on April 4 this year. Mr. Öcalan's perspective on a democratic solution is very clear. His suggestion for an alternative life is very clear and gives hope to people. Mr. Öcalan's physical freedom must be ensured immediately so that he can play his historical role for a solution to the Kurdish question, for the democratization of Turkey and the Middle East. We urge all our people to march to Amara for the rebirth of Mr. Öcalan and the Kurdish people. We call for freedom and democracy to be rebuilt together there.”

'KURDS’ BIRTHDAY'

DTK Co-Chair Berdan Öztürk pointed out that the Kurds have been ignored for years. Öztürk said: “This understanding still prevails. Why is Mr. Öcalan so important to us? Ahead of us is a historic election. Everyone should know that Mr. Öcalan, with his philosophy and paradigm, is not only a leader of the Kurds, but also a leader of the Middle East. That's why he is so important to us. He is the leader of the Kurds and the oppressed peoples. His birthday is the birthday of the Kurds. Nobody can deny this. In the past, the Kurds were ashamed to reveal that 'they were Kurds'. They were not considered human beings. Mr. Öcalan and his companions opposed and struggled against it. Everyone is aware of the role and mission of Mr. Öcalan. Everyone knows very well that the Kurdish question cannot be resolved without Öcalan. Democracy cannot be obtained without Öcalan.

Mr. Öcalan's birthday signifies the rebirth of the Kurdish people. The Kurdish people have been reborn, and the Kurds are now known all over the world thanks to the paradigm of Mr. Öcalan. We will march to Amara together and deliver a strong message there. There can be no solution, democracy, freedom and equal life without Öcalan.”