PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan, who by his own definition is "a killjoy in the Middle East" because he was not involved in the interests of global powers trying to redraw the borders in the Middle East, was handed over to Turkey on February 15, 1999, with the conspiracy of international powers. There has been no news from Abdullah Ocalan, who has been held captive in absolute isolation conditions in Imralı High Security Type F Prison for 25 years since he was handed over to Turkey, for 3 years. As the isolation deepened and there is no news from Abdullah Ocalan, the "Freedom for Abdullah Ocalan, solution to the Kurdish issue" campaign was launched with simultaneous statements made in 74 centers around the world on October 10, 2023. As part of the campaign, political prisoners in prisons also started a hunger strike on November 27, 2023.

 

While protests continue in many places for Abdullah Ocalan, his freedom will be demanded once again on the occasion of his 75th birthday on April 4. Amara District of Xelfetî district, where Abdullah Ocalan was born, to which tens of thousands of people flock from the metropolises of Kurdistan and Turkey every year, is waiting for its guests this year too.

 

Ali Ocalan, nephew of Abdullah Ocalan, who lives in Amara District, invited everyone to Amara on Abdullah Ocalan's birthday.

 

FIRST CELEBRATIONS IN AMARA

 

Ali Ocalan said that as the support that started after the international conspiracy became massive, a few women from Adana and Mersin came to Amara for the April 4th celebration for the first time in 2003. Ocalan said: "April 4 celebrations started to be held here and every celebration was in a festive atmosphere."

 

Ali Ocalan stated that the international conspiracy came to nothing as Abdullah Ocalan's ideas were adopted more and more every year, and said: “All international states came together and wanted to cut off the dialogue between the Kurds and Mr. Ocalan. This is what they intended with the conspiracy. However, this bond was never cut, even while Mr. Ocalan is in prison. His people supported him and his ideas doubly. Neither we, his relatives nor his lawyers have been able to meet him for nearly 3 years. We want to talk to him as soon as possible. We reiterate our call to end this isolation."

 

'WE ARE WORRIED AS A FAMILY'

 

Stating that they are worried about not having heard from PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan for 3 years, Ocalan reacted to the isolation. Ocalan said: “We want to get information about the health condition of Mr. Abdullah Ocalan. As a family, we want to get information as soon as possible. Every prisoner has legal rights. It is a legal right to meet with the family and their lawyers. We call on the authorities to fulfill this right. We just want Mr. Ocalan to get his rights like every prisoner. Prisoners started a hunger strike to end the isolation and solve the Kurdish issue. The gates of Imralı must be opened in order to solve the Kurdish issue and accept the demands of the prisoners. "If the Imrali gates are not opened, the Kurdish issue will not be solved."

 

'WE ARE READY TO HOST'

 

Making a call to the public on the occasion of PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan's birthday, Ocalan said: “Happy 75th birthday of Mr. Abdullah Ocalan to all our people. This year, as every year, the public will turn to Amara. As a family, we are very happy to welcome our guests. We are ready to host them. Mr. Abdullah Ocalan revealed the existence and reality of an ignored people. For this reason, the Kurds attach great importance to Mr. Abdullah Ocalan. Similarly, the people of the world embrace Mr. Abdullah Ocalan.”

 

MA / Mahmut Altıntaş - Ceylan Şahinli