In Makhmur Martyr Rustam Cudi Refugee Camp, a vigil was started on 20 July 2023 with the slogan “Solution to the Kurdish question, freedom for Leader Apo” to ensure the physical freedom of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Makhmur people who participated in the vigil, which continued on its 640th day with 125 groups, evaluated Abdullah Öcalan's “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” to Mezopotamya Agency (MA). 

 

Stating that they will not believe in the sincerity of the state unless the state takes a concrete step, Qedrî Şirîşeyi said, “The isolation in the person of our leader was imposed on the society. This isolation still continues. The aim of our action, which has been going on for about 2 years, is not only to break the isolation, but also to ensure the physical freedom of Leader Apo. Leader Apo's case is the case of the century. Especially our Leader's message of 27 February was shared with the public and a legal correction had to be made immediately after this call. Conditions and circumstances must be created for Leader Apo to continue this process. Because the main actor in this process is Leader Apo. Therefore, the Imrali system must be abolished and Leader Apo must be physically liberated. Whatever the state says today means nothing to us. The important thing is that they establish their words in practice.”

 

‘WE WILL RESIST UNTIL WE REACH OUR GOAL’

 

Stating that they will continue the protests until they reach their goal, Şirîşeyî said, “The Kurdish people have paid a heavy price and have always been deceived by the state. Whenever the state gets stuck, it steps in and history repeats itself. The state needs to show its sincerity and approach to the Kurdish people in order for us to go through similar processes again.”

 

‘TIME IS THE TIME FOR THE FREEDOM OF OUR LEADER’

 

Hacer Mijîni, one of the protesters, stated that Abdullah Öcalan took a historic step but the state did not take action against this step and added, “Our action continues. We will not stop our action until the physical freedom of the leadership is ensured. Now the Turkish state should also take a step. Our leader has been asking for peace for 50 years. The Kurdish people need to stand up and take action everywhere. We must not stop until he is physically free. The historic message of the leader has set an example for the whole world. Because this call was a call for peace, brotherhood and humanity. We are behind our leader and his message. Now is the time to realise the physical freedom of our Leader.”

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut