Following a 5.1 magnitude earthquake in the Marmara Sea near Gemlik, close to where İmralı Island is located, widespread protests broke out across North and East Syria. Protesters demand updates on the condition of Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), who is imprisoned on İmralı Island.
Residents of Al-Maabadah (Girkê Legê), along with members from various civil institutions, actively participated in the demonstrations, calling for immediate legal access to İmralı Island.
Idris Mihemed, a Democratic Union Party (PYD) member, spoke to the crowd in Al-Maabadah. He highlighted the community’s anxiety due to the lack of updates on Öcalan’s well-being after the earthquake. Mihemed called on international organisations to inspect İmralı prison and inform the public on their findings, underscoring Öcalan’s significant role as “a symbol of the people’s will and honour”.
In Qamishli (Qamişlo), demonstrators marched to emphasise the isolation experienced by Öcalan. Binefş Ebdo, a PYD official from Al-Malikiyah (Dêrik), stressed the necessity of obtaining information about Öcalan’s condition, arguing that any threat to him is a direct threat to the people.
A separate march in Qamishli, organised by the Qamishli People’s Initiative, witnessed participation from hundreds of locals. PYD Qamishli Co-President Menîce Heyder expressed concern over the impact of the earthquake on Öcalan and criticised the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) for their inaction. Heyder reaffirmed a commitment to promoting Öcalan’s philosophy.
In Tell Hamis (Til Hemîs), the Tell Hamis People’s Council issued a statement outside their council building, read by council member Belqîs Elabdullah. The statement appealed to international organisations and human rights bodies to counter the absolute isolation imposed on Öcalan and to provide information regarding his condition after the earthquake.
