JINHA

QAMIŞLO –Qamişlo women organized a celebration of the birthday of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan in the Rojava city. Öcalan will be 66 years old tomorrow, April 4.

In the city of Qamişlo, inCizîrê Canton, women from different ethnic groups came together for an event celebrating the PKK leader's birthday and the resistance of all oppressed peoples. Women held a moment of silence for all those who have lost their lives in the struggle of democracy, followed by speeches, songs and poetry readings.

"Our leader worked for 20 years in Syria. When he left, he was arrested," Henife Mustafa said, reminding the crowd of the long presence of PKK camps in Syria and Öcalan's subsequent pursuit and capture by Turkish security forces in an internationally-coordinated operation. "The real reason he was arrested was his free thinking. Hegemonic forces did not accept his projects for the Middle East. They thought that by separating him from the people, they could stop this struggle. But the people have just become more committed to realizing the projects that the leader Apo wanted."

Henife noted that the PKK leader's philosophy gives central importance to women, who have been the leaders of the Rojava revolution.

Menan Bagok, speaking next, wished a happy April 4 to Abdullah Öcalan and all political prisoners. Reflecting on his childhood, she noted that he was always an example of solidarity, even as a child and that the women in his family strongly influenced his women's liberation philosophy.

Qamişlo women have also planted a garden dedicated to the PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan on the occasion of his birthday tomorrow on April 4. The women, working to develop greenhouses to enhance women's economic autonomy, dedicated a section to the jailed leader, calling it the "Leadership Garden."

Greenhouse Foundation Director MuneAbdulselam says the group wants to plant "Leadership Gardens" in every village in the area as well, saying they hope the jailed leader will be released from jail and can visit Rojava.

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