It has been 26 years since the conspiracy against Abdullah Öcalan on 15 February 1999 by the international powers led by the USA. Since the day he was brought to Turkey, Öcalan has been held under isolation in İmralı Type F High Security Closed Prison. Öcalan's ideas communicated to the public under isolation conditions have affected millions of people in 26 years.

 

Kurds took Abdullah Öcalan's ideas as a basis during the civil war that broke out in Syria in 2011. Despite all the attacks in 14 years, a structure was built here in which all peoples and beliefs took part. The Yazidis, who have faced 74 edicts until today, and the citizens who had to migrate to the Makhmur Refugee Camp in Iraq due to village burnings in the 1990s were also organised with Öcalan's ideas. While an autonomous structure was built in Shengal after the struggle against ISIS, Makhmur people have been standing against the attacks on the basis of self-defence since the 90s.

 

Sara Botan, the spokesperson of the Êzidxan Youth Union, which was established after the liberation of Shengal, said that they struggle based on Öcalan's ideas. "Rêber Apo today is not only the leader of the Kurdish people but also the leader of all peoples, the hope of freedom," said Sara Botan and added, "We Êzidî women have been organising around his ideology for more than 10 years and defending ourselves around this ideology. Rêber Apo is the line of freedom for us. Êzidî society is not a society that wants war, it fights for peace. Leader Apo is the same way. He endeavours and struggles for the peace of the society. Because Leader Apo's thought and philosophy is the thought of the society."

 

Stating that they started a campaign in Shengal for Öcalan's freedom, Sara Botan said, "Rêber Apo saved Yazidi women from genocide. For this reason, Yazidi women see Rêber Apo as a leader. We are ready to do whatever it takes for the freedom of Rêber Apo. Our campaign has entered its second year. His freedom is our freedom, our existence.  We see and interpret it in this way. There are people from different walks of life and beliefs in Shengal, they live together. He taught us this unity and idea. Therefore, we will protect Leader Apo's idea."

 

 

Sara Botan added, "Today, thanks to his effort, we live in our own lands and keep our culture alive. One of Leader Apo's dreams is to come to Mount Shengal if he becomes physically free. We believe that 2025 will be the year of Leader Apo's physical freedom. We want to host Leader Apo on Mount Shengal. Leader Apo may not be physically among us, but he always says 'I am wherever my defences and ideas are'."

 

THE 'FREEDOM' DEMONSTRATION IN MAKHMUR

 

In Makhmur Refugee Camp, protests for the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan have been going on for a year. Helim Zoravayi, one of the names taking part in the vigil, said: "They thought they would end the Kurds by imprisoning Leader Apo. But the Kurds have become stronger. His philosophy has become more readable. Leader Apo has never been imprisoned, he is always among us with his ideas and thoughts. Kurds have moved forward with Leader Apo's philosophy. Not only Kurds, but the eyes of the world are on the philosophy created by Leader Apo. The Leader must be liberated and the bloodshed must stop as soon as possible."

 

Salih Hevlerî, one of the protesters, said, "A great conspiracy was established on our Leader. The conspiracy is still going on, but they could not achieve their goal. They tried to liquidate the PKK by capturing the Leader. They could not liquidate the PKK forces. Anyone other than the Leader could not have resisted and lived in four walls for 26 years. Everyone with a conscience should raise their voice against the conspiracy."

 

Nalîn Nerexî stated that Abdullah Öcalan made efforts for a solution under conditions of isolation and added, "15 February is a black day for us. The conspirators were aiming to destroy the Kurds. But despite all the attacks, the Kurdish people continued to resist. Kurds are armed with his philosophy and no power can destroy this people. Kurds and their friends all over the world are struggling for the physical freedom of the Leader through various actions. As long as we do not physically see our Leader among us, it will be meaningless to talk about peace."

 

Bahadîn Şîn said, "I believe that the conspiracy was not successful. It is our Leader and the Kurdish people who succeeded. The conspiracy will never achieve its goal. I firmly believe that we will achieve freedom for both us and our Leader. The physical freedom of our Leader is very important for the Kurdish people and the peoples of the Middle East. Mr Abdullah Öcalan is not only the leader of Kurds but of all peoples."