Claims about health condition of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan shared on social media on March 14. People in Iraqi Kurdistan took to the squares over the claims regarding Abdullah Öcalan’s medical condition and organised protests.
The first protest was held in Makhmour Camp. Firstly, a Newroz fire was lit as part of ongoing Newroz Festival celebrations and then the protest began.
Led by Patriotic Youth Movement and Young Women’s Movement, people gathered in the protest and demanded that the lawyers of Abdullah Öcalan and Öcalan’s family be allowed to visit İmralı Island where Öcalan has been imprisoned.
Rehşan Mexmûr spoke at the protest and said Kurdish people would not accept captivity neither for Öcalan nor for themselves anymore.
There was also a protest in Halabja in response to the rumours about the well being of Abdullah Öcalan. Öcalan’s freedom was demanded in the protest.
There were also protests in Qaladiza and Xanesor for clear information about Öcalan’s health.