ISTANBUL — Women arrived in Gemlik across Turkey and Kurdistan, where a march calling for the release of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan is set to begin.

 

The march is being organised under the leadership of the Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA) with the slogan “Time for women, time for freedom and meeting with a free leader”. 

 

Participants who set out from multiple cities have now reached the district of Gemlik in Bursa, where they are expected to march demanding Abdullah Öcalan’s physical freedom. 

 

Wearing vests bearing the slogan “Jin, jiyan, azadî (Women, life, freedom)”, the women gathered in the area and began waiting for a group travelling from Istanbul to join them. They chanted slogans including “Jin, jiyan, azadî, azadîya rêbertî,” “Jin, jiyan, azadî,” and “Bê serok jiyan nabê (There is no life without the Leader),” while also performing traditional ululations.

 

Accompanied by erbane drums, the group sang Kurdish songs and danced in circles.

 

The march is expected to begin at around 13:00 local time once the Istanbul group arrives.