Gulan Botan/JINHA

QAMIŞLO – Women from the Women’s Asayish Center in the Rojava city of Qamişlo commented on the 17th anniversary of the international plot to capture PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. The women called for increased organizing for Abdullah Öcalan’s freedom.

On February 15, 1999, PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan was captured, transported to Turkey and jailed with the cooperation of international intelligence services. Members of the Women’s Asayish Center in the Rojava city of Qamişlo commented on the international plot against Abdullah Öcalan.

“They wanted to imprison the spirit of freedom in the person of our leader,” said Hesina Hisen Ehmed. “We say to everyone: the forces in power can never stop the thought of the leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan]. His thoughts, paradigm and life philosophy spread around the world more and more every day. If the Turkish state is holding our leader under conditions of isolation, this is just proof of its weakness.”

Hesina noted that in Rojava, where autonomy has been declared for five years, the people have won important victories that are now being reflected in Northern Kurdistan in Turkey, under attack by the Kurdish state after declarations of local self-government.

“But they can’t hold us back with the isolation and jailing of the leader Apo,” said Hesina. “Just as he’s with us now through his thought, we will make sure he is with us physically.”

“Women must never give up on the philosophy of freedom,” said Zozan Ebdulmelek, who noted that women have organized themselves based on Abdullah Öcalan’s thinking. “Whatever happens, we will stand by our leader. Until he is liberated, everywhere will be struggle; everywhere will be rebellion.”

Emel Hisen called the plot against Abdullah Öcalan not just an attack on the Kurdish people, but against all women of the Middle East.

“We learned about women’s liberation with our leader. This is why all women in the Middle East need to stand up for him,” said Emel, who said that she joined the Asayish after she became acquainted with Abdullah Öcalan’s thought. “His struggle is for the freedom of women and society. As an Arab woman, I am calling on all women of the Middle East: speak up against this plot.”

Asayish member Mihan Fehro called for all oppressed people of the Middle East to escalate their struggle for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan.

(du/mg/cm)