JINHA

NEWS CENTER–YPJ fighters, founded on April 4, organized celebrations of the birthday of jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan on Friday in Kobanê canton.

Aşme village, in the Kobanê Canton of Rojava, hosted a celebration of April 4 just beside the tomb of Suleiman Shah. In February, YPG/YPJ fighters oversaw an operation by Turkish soldiers to move the tomb out of the danger of Daesh attack.

YPJ fighters organized the Aşme celebration, at which there was one birthday cake for Öcalan and one for the YPJ—founded on April 4. After the cakes were cut, locals danced traditional halay folk dances. Canton officials and YPJ commanders also took part.

In the city of Kobanê itself, the people of Kobanê celebrated by dancing around fires on Miştenur Hill—the symbol of the struggle to liberate Kobanê. A large crowd of civilians were joined by YPG/YPJ commanders and canton administrators. Celebrations, lit by fireworks, continued till late night.

YPG/YPJ fighters in military positions in Kobanê canton also danced halay in celebration of the birthday festivities and fired their guns into the air.

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