In Wan (Van), thousands gathered under the leadership of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party to demand concrete steps in the “Peace and Democratic Society” process initiated by Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan on 27 February 2025. 

 

The march, held under the slogan “Gavek ji bo Aştiyê/Take a Step for Peace,” began behind Van AVM and was attended by representatives of political parties, democratic mass organisations and many residents of the city.

 

The crowd, led by women and young people, set off from behind the shopping centre and marched towards Musa Anter Park carrying a banner reading “Youth want their leader.” Throughout the march, demonstrators frequently chanted slogans including “Bijî Serok Apo (Long live Leader Apo),” “Bê Serok jiyan nabe (There is no life without the Leader)”.

 

Following the march, DEM Party Wan Co-chair Gülşen Kurt stressed that Abdullah Öcalan’s status as one of the key issues in the process.

 

She continued: “Sincere steps must be taken in this process. Political prisoners must be released immediately and trustees must be withdrawn. For a hundred years, the Kurdish people have not bowed to these same policies, and they will not bow. Women, youth, Kurds and all oppressed peoples want peace.”