URFA - Stating that PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan's birthday was celebrated en masse in 2004, Mehmet Öcalan made a call and said, "We are expecting Öcalan's guests on April 4".

 

The international conspiracy, which started when PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan left Syria on October 9, 1998 and continued when he was brought to Turkey on February 15, 1999, left 23 years behind. While the conspiracy, in which many countries were involved with USA, England and Israel, continued with the aggravated isolation, Öcalan's paradigm, which was embraced by millions, gave hope to different ethnicities, beliefs and all oppressed social segments. Öcalan, who is held under severe isolation conditions in the İmralı High Security Type F Prison, which is an island prison like no other in the world, is not allowed to meet with his family and lawyers. The PKK Leader has not been able to hold any meetings since the last "interrupted" phone call he had with his family on March 25, 2021. The last meeting with his lawyers was held on August 7, 2019. 

 

The Kurds, who have not heard from Öcalan for more than a year, whom they consider their political will, are preparing to celebrate the 73rd birthday of the PKK Leader. Kurds, who consider Öcalan's birthday as their birthday, turn their way to Amara (Ömerli) District of Halfeti in Urfa with marches such as "Journey to the Sun" and "Freedom for the Sun" every April 4th. 

 

MARCH TO AMARA

 

Again on April 4 2022, various activities and events will be organized under the leadership of the MED Federation of Legal and Solidarity Associations for Families of Prisoners and Convicts (MED TUHAD-FED), Democratic Society Congress (DTK), Free Women's Movement (TJA), Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). In this context, saplings will be planted in many settlements between 1st and 10th of April. On April 4, a march will take place from Halfeti to Amara.

 

These celebrations, which turn into a festival every year, were recorded in history with the violence and death incidents took place during the celebrations when it was banned. Mehmet Öcalan, brother of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, told the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) the details of the celebrations that started in 2004 and have been held for 17 years. 

 

2004: FIRST CELEBRATION

 

Noting that Öcalan's first mass birthday event was organised on April 4, 2004, under the leadership of the Families of Prisoners and Convicts and the Federation of Assistance and Solidarity (TUHAD-FED), Mehmet Öcalan said that despite the obstacles, tens of thousands of people from all over Turkey went to Amara. Stating that he never forgot the enthusiasm of the first celebration, Mehmet Öcalan said, “It was something new and we were happy as a family. Since the Kurds have been oppressed for years, most of them do not know what a birthday is. The Kurds could not even celebrate their own birthdays. A people in this situation began to celebrate Mr. Öcalan's birthday in 2004.” 

 

2005-2006: BIGGER PARTICIPATION

 

Noting that a larger crowd turned towards Amara in 2005 compared to the previous year, Mehmet Öcalan said,  "The crowd was intervened and dozens of people were injured. Despite the obstacles, hundreds of people used the rural roads to reach Amara. His birthday was celebrated more enthusiastically than the previous year. The celebrations were held in the shadow of the social events that took place in Diyarbakır between March 28-31 in 2006, and that despite the obstacles, thousands of people who met on the shore of the Euphrates held a birthday celebration and left carnations on the Euphrates. Some citizens reached Amara in different ways and celebrated his birthday in the house where PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan was born."

 

2007: HIS HEALTH IS OUR HEALTH

 

Mehmet Öcalan said, "The news that Öcalan was poisoned marked the 2007 march. Tens of thousands attended the march with the slogan 'His health is our health'. Even though they faced obstacles, the citizens who reached the house where Öcalan was born celebrated his birthday." 

 

2008: CELEBRATION LIKE A FESTIVAL

 

Öcalan said, "in 2008, tens of thousands of people from many cities gathered in Suruç's Aligor District to go to Amara and celebrated Öcalan's birthday in a festive atmosphere. After the celebration in Aligor, the crowd turned towards Amara and the police attacked the crowd."

 

2009: MUSTAFA AND MAHSUM DIED

 

On April 3, 2009, tens of thousands of people gathered in the Aligor neighborhood of Suruç. Celebrating Öcalan's birthday with the one-day festival, tens of thousands turned towards Amara. The people were on their way to Amara on the morning of April 4 with the slogan "Your freedom is our freedom", and the crowd was stopped by the police and soldiers 20 kilometers away from Amara. As a result of the intervention of the police and soldiers, Dicle University student Mahsum Karaoğlan and Suruç construction worker Mustafa Dağ were killed by the gas bombs of the police. ” 

 

2010: HIS BIRTH IS OUR BIRTH

 

Expressing that the Amara march was held in 2010 with the slogans "Freedom for Öcalan" and "His birth is our birth, His freedom is our freedom", Mehmet Öcalan said, "The turnout was higher than the previous year when Karaoğlan and Dağ lost their lives. Despite the obstacles, the crowd entered Amara and celebrated." 

 

2011-2012: CELEBRATION UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY

 

Stating that tens of thousands of people from dozens of cities turned their way to Amara in 2011 to celebrate Öcalan's birthday. Mehmet Öcalan said, "The celebrations took place in a festive atmosphere. Celebrations were held under the shadow of the State of Emergency in 2012, and despite all the obstacles of the state, tens of thousands of people reached Amara and celebrated."

 

2013: HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS PARTICIPATED IN THE CELEBRATIONS

 

Expressing that the celebration was held in 2013 took place in an environment where the process called “solution” started, Mehmet Öcalan said, "Hundreds of thousands of people participated in the celebrations was held in a festive atmosphere. Mehmet Öcalan said: "Not even a single person was hurt because there was no state intervention. The state prevented the celebrations for years saying that there would be provocations. But no one was hurt in those years when the celebrations were held en masse. People celebrated in peace."

 

2014: ÖCALAN SENT A MESSAGE

 

Stating that the message sent by Öcalan left its mark on the celebration was held in 2014 and the message was greeted with enthusiasm by tens of thousands of people. Reminding that the PKK Leader said in his message that he is with the people at the feast of the sun in Amara, Mehmet Öcalan said, "Mr. Öcalan saw his own birthday as the birthday of the Kurdish people, and this is true. In the years when the state did not try to prevent it, the Kurds celebrated his birthday like their own birthdays.” 

 

2015: MARCHES TO AMARA FROM ALL SIDES

 

Stating that marches were held to Amara in 2015 with enthusiasm , Öcalan that the celebrations were held in a festive atmosphere and that it was the last one to be celebrated in a festive atmosphere that was not intervened by the state forces.

 

CELEBRATION WAS HELD DESPITE THE BAN

 

The demand of the Amara march held in 2016 was an end to the ongoing isolation on Öcalan and a return to the negotiating table. The roads of Urfa were blocked by the police and soldiers within the scope of the prohibition decision, which was reinstated as a result of the conflict. Despite the obstacles, some of the citizens managed to reach Amara and celebrated his birthday. 

 

Stating that the celebrations were prevented in 2017 and 2018, Mehmet Öcalan said, "Despite the obstacles, thousands of people set out to reach Amara, which was besieged in 2019, for days before the celebrations. Despite all the obstacles, a birthday event was held on April 4 in every city and area where Kurds are present. The celebrations were marked by the hunger strikes launched on November 8, 2018 by DTK Co-chair and HDP Hakkari MPs Leyla Güven, demanding the 'end of isolation' that lasted for 200 days. The celebrations that were intended to be held in 2020 and 2021 were prevented with the excuse of the coronavirus (Covid-19). While the celebrations were intended to be held in Amara were not allowed due to the pandemic, the Kurds celebrated wherever they were." 

 

TOWARDS THE 73RD BIRTHDAY

 

Stating that the Kurds greet the 73rd birthday of the PKK Leader in the shadow of incommunicado in 2022, Öcalan said, "The Kurdish question and the approach to April 4 are interconnected, they can not change a reality with pressure. The people want to celebrate their leader's birthday. Blocking of the celebrations is not the solution. If the Kurdish question is not solved, no problem in Turkey will be solved." 

 

'WE ARE EXPECTING ÖCALAN'S GUESTS'

 

Underlining that April 4 is a symbol for Kurds, Mehmet Öcalan continued: “Mr. Öcalan opened his eyes to the world in this house in Amara. As a family, we are expecting his guests. If the people want to celebrate, no one should prevent it. We have a call to all people; We welcome everyone here. In Newroz, the people shouted the demand of the physical freedom of Mr. Öcalan with slogans. This voice rose on March 8 as well. The same demand will rise on April 4th. March 8, March 21 and April 4 are interconnected. More than ever, the people want Mr. Öcalan's physical freedom. No one can ignore this demand. No power can separate the people from Mr. Öcalan.”

 

MA / Emrullah Acar