Qamishlo— The Turkish authorities’ refusal to grant leader Abdullah Öcalan his basic rights after years of imprisonment sparked public outrage, prompting residents of Qamishlo in Northeast Syria to hold a march demanding his physical freedom.

Despite repeated calls for a solution and the implementation of Öcalan’s peace and democratic society initiative, the Turkish authorities have taken no action on the Kurdish issue in recent months.

During the march on Monday, November 17, participants emphasized, “Our only demand is the physical freedom of leader Öcalan; therefore, we will always remain in the midst of struggle and resistance.” Thousands of people joined the march, which carried the slogan: “Leader Öcalan, a symbol of peace and truth for humanity.”

In a speech delivered by Ramziya Mohammed on behalf of the STAR Conference, she said: “Leader Öcalan has struggled to save our society from occupation, and today this struggle has reached a new stage. He has endured severe isolation for 27 years,” adding, “Over these long years, his images have shown great strength, steadfastness, and struggle.”

She highlighted that Öcalan resisted for the sake of society as a whole for 27 years in pursuit of peace, stating, “If Öcalan’s call for peace and a democratic society had not been launched, we would now be in a much harsher war. But his call changed global systems.”

Ramziya Mohammed affirmed that the entire people desire peace: “The residents of the region want peace, and therefore we must also fulfill our duties and responsibilities. Our sole demand is the release of leader Öcalan, and we will always remain in the struggle and resistance. We will build a democratic society through the struggle and resistance of the people, from age seven to seventy.”

At the conclusion of the march, participants stressed their continued commitment to struggle and peaceful efforts to achieve their demands, asserting that their action is part of defending their rights and calling for a political solution that ensures stability in the region. Meanwhile, calls from residents and civil institutions continue to end the isolation imposed on leader Abdullah Öcalan.