The ‘Great Freedom March’ reached its final destination in Halfeti (Xelfetî) district of Turkey’s southeastern Kurdish-majority Urfa (Riha) province on Thursday 15 February, marking both the 25th anniversary of the capture of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan, and the culmination of a 15-day journey to champion the cause of Kurdish rights and the release of Öcalan.
The march, initiated on 1 February, aimed to highlight the Kurdish issue and call for Öcalan’s physical freedom as a step towards a democratic solution.
Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-chair Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar emphasised the collective nature of the march. “This march is not only for those who walked but represents the movement of millions. We will continue to fight until Mr. Öcalan’s voice reaches everyone and the Kurdish issue is resolved,” she stated.
The marchers, welcomed by locals with banners and slogans supporting Öcalan, made a statement at Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party’s (DEM Party) district office in Halfeti, advocating for peace and resistance against the ongoing war policies of the Turkish state.
The marchers attempted to proceed to Öcalan’s birthplace, Amara, but were denied entry by the officials who cited “restrictions due to military operations”. Despite this setback, the participants remained determined, highlighting the Kurdish struggle against the Islamic State (ISIS) and the significant role of Kurdish women in North and East Syria in establishing a new paradigm as envisioned by Öcalan.
Uçar criticised the Turkish state’s approach to the Kurdish issue and the continued isolation imposed on Öcalan, calling for a unified effort to address the Kurdish reality and demanding Öcalan’s freedom as the key to resolution. She thanked all those who supported the march, reaffirming the Kurdish commitment to their cause despite international and domestic challenges.
The march concluded in Halfeti, with the participants vowing to persist in their advocacy until a just solution is achieved, underscoring the importance of solidarity and peaceful activism in the Kurdish movement.
