Ocalan images banned for the long march in Mannheim

Despite the pressure from German authorities, the demonstrators continue their march towards Strasbourg.

A long march was organized in the city of Mannheim in Germany to protest the isolation of the Kurdish people’s leader, Abdullah Ocalan. The local court and the German police have put pressure on demonstrators.

The long march in Mannheim will continue for six days and will reach Strasbourg on February 16. Today the demonstrators gathered in front of the train station in Mannheim where the march kicked off for the first day.

A local court in Baden-Württemberg has ordered a ban on some of the posters and banners carried by the participants of the march. Reportedly, images of Ocalan and Kurdish hunger strikers have been banned by the court.

Despite the pressure from German authorities, the demonstrators continue their march towards Strasbourg.

Ezda Alkiş spoke on behalf of Free Young Women and Revolutionary Youth Movement and said: “This action aims to demand freedom for our leader. The Kurdish youth should participate in the march.”

Zozan Serhat spoke for the Free Women’s Movement and stated that the march was organized to demand the removal of Ocalan’s isolation and to support the Kurdish hunger strikers. “The German police have banned the images of our leader. This is a clear extension of the international conspiracy. We will not accept this,” Serhat added.

Rolan Schuster on behalf of the German Left Party (Die Linke) also delivered a speech and said: “We are well aware that all international powers have collaborated in the February 15 conspiracy against Ocalan. This march is carried out to demand Ocalan’s freedom, yet today even his images are banned. These practices are totally unacceptable. We as Die Linke state that the Kurds are giving a righteous struggle. We will fight to the end to ensure that this unlawfulness ends.”

Speaking after, Emin Deniz, co-chair of the FCK-Kawa Bashur, said the following; “We salute Leyla Guven and all other resisting comrades. In this march, we will be your voice. We will free our leader and build Kurdistan.”