Long March for the freedom of Leader Öcalan kicks off in Hannover

CENTRAL NEWS

The Long March which has been held every year in Europe for the past 20 years, is an action which is traditionally organised by young members of the Kurdish society, demanding the freedom of the People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan. This year’s action was organised under the slogan “For the Freedom of Leader Apo, Revolt Together.”

The march has kicked off in Hannover today with the participation of some 250 Kurdish and internationalist youth from France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, England and the Netherlands.

The fascist German police imposed a ban on all slogans for Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) before the march began. Images of Leader Öcalan, flags of PKK, KCK, YPG, YPJ and Kurdish students’ associations JXK and YXK were also banned by the police.

Despite the obstructions and provocations of the police, the march started with great enthusiasm following the speeches held by TEKO-JIN, TCŞ, FED-DEM and Antifa activists. Speakers denounced the German state’s cooperation with the Turkish state in the genocide against the Kurdish people.

The activists also saluted the Battle of Heftanin move of the Kurdistan freedom guerrillas against Turkish occupation attempts as they chant slogans demanding freedom for the Kurdish leader.

The initiation of the action in Hannover is dedicated to Kurdish teenager Halim Dener, who was murdered by a racist German policeman on 30 June 1994 while putting up posters of the ERNK (Kurdistan National Liberation Front). The activists will also march at the scene of his murder.