Citizens who flocked to Amara neighborhood of Halfeti district to celebrate the 73rd birthday of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, started celebrating his birthday at the toll booths at the Birecik-Halfeti highway exit. People coming together in Amara which was closed by hundreds of soldiers and armoured vehicles, celebrated Öcalan's birthday at the house where he was born.

 

AMARA UNDER BLOCKADE

 

Welcoming the arrivals for April 4, Öcalan's brother Mehmet Öcalan and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Urfa Deputy Ömer Öcalan accepted the birthday celebrations. Speaking in the courtyard of the house where Öcalan was born, Ömer Öcalan said, "We are in Amara on April 4. The whole village is blockaded by the police and soldiers. They didn't allow our people to come to Amara. Everyone wanted to come here with us. They were illegally prevented from coming here."

 

'IT MUST BE CELEBRATED IN EVERY CITY'

 

Öcalan said: "Everyone can celebrate April 4 at their own cities. It can be with millions of a few people. They are blockading our village and prevented our guests from coming here. We are telling them once again. Happy birthday Mr. Öcalan. The Kurdish question can only be solved with the help of Mr. Öcalan. An honourable peace will come if dialogue can be established."

 

After the speech, the artists sang the song "Ay dilbere" and celebrated Öcalan's birthday.