JINHA

NEWS CENTER – Mass celebrations of the birthday of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan took place in his native Urfa province on Friday and Saturday.

In spite of heavy rainfall, Freedom for Öcalan marches from Urfa, Adıyaman and Antep reached the Parka Azadiyêya 4 Nîsanê (4 April Freedom Square) in the town of Halfeti on Friday. Tens of thousands, including Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) politicians, traveled to the site where, on April 4 2009, MahsumKaraoğlan and Mustafa Dağ were slain by Turkish soldiers while attempting to join a similar birthday celebration.

Then, in the Halfeti city center, crowds began to gather on Friday evening. Performers before the crowd of tens of thousands included theMKM (Mesopotamia Culture Center) Woman Folk Dancing Group and a 200-woman erbane group, who the crowd met with applause and chants of the Kurdish slogan "woman, life, freedom." Abdullah Öcalan's brother Mehmet Öcalan also addressed the crowd.

Other speakers included BaharOktay, co-chair of TUHAD-FED, a group that organizes legal support for families of political prisoners and organized the celebrations. Oktay emphasized the need forÖcalan'sfreedom in her speech. The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Urfa MP İbrahim Ayhan and a delegation from Kobanê also greeted the celebration.

The next day, the crowds marched to the small village of Amara, the birthplace of Abdullah Öcalan, 12 kilometers away. The crowds visited Öcalan's home, where they danced the traditional halay dance. Tens of thousands met at the garden of the jailed Kurdish leader's home and held one minute of silence, followed by the Kurdish anthem "ÇerxaŞoreşê."

The garden was decorated with the flags of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) and posters of Öcalan. Placards in Armenian, Kurdish and Turkish wished the jailed leader a happy birthday.

Peace Mothers cut a large red, green and yellow cake along with Mehmet Öcalan. Mr. Öcalan said that this cake was dedicated to all martyrs of Kurdistan.

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