Masses took to the streets on Thursday after Turkish media reports that a fire broke out on the Imralı Island where Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and three other prisoners are held.

Hundreds of people from the Qamishlo city of northern Syria started a demonstration in front of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Qamishlo on Thursday demanding immediate access to Öcalan who has been held in solitary confinement by the Turkish state.

Speaking here on the second day of the protest, PYD (Democratic Union Party) member Necah Gilo stated that their action will continue until Öcalan is heard from.

Gilo said; “Let the whole world know that we are rising up for our Leader. We struggle and resist for him.”

Women’s umbrella organisation Kongreya Star Coordination member Muna Yusuf called on international institutions to fulfill their responsibilities for the Kurdish leader.