The Democratic Union Party (PYD) released a statement marking the 25th anniversary of the forced departure of PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan from Syria, which marks the beginning of the "international conspiracy" that led to the deportation of the Kurdish leader from Kenya to Turkey on 15 February 1999.

The statement pointed out that: “We consider this day in the context of the system of mass genocide against the Kurds and the cause for justice that should finally be resolved. No local or international party, regardless of their power, can avoid a democratic solution to this cause anymore. Leader Abdullah Öcalan has sought to build an ethical-political society based on the theory of a democratic nation and democratic Middle East confederalism, and the freedom and leading role of women. Thanks to self-organization, the Kurdish people have protected themselves from the policies of political, military and cultural genocide.”

The statement continued: “Leader Abdullah Öcalan exposed the secrets of the state that utilized the hegemonic system against the people’s will and tried to suppress their existence and their rights. For this reason, international parties were also involved in the international conspiracy against Leader Abdullah Öcalan and targeted, in his person, the Kurdish people and their cause, as well as all democratic and peaceful forces.”

The PYD stated that they considered the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan as their fundamental duty, and condemned all those who planned and executed the conspiracy.

The party called on the international community, the United Nations and human rights organizations to put an end to the isolation of Öcalan. The PYD also called on the Kurds and all other peoples in the region to enhance their struggle for the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, which, it said, is an urgent demand now.