Preparations for the 76th birthday celebration of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who was born on 4 April 1949 in the rural Amara neighbourhood of Xelfetî (Halfeti) district of Riha (Urfa), have been completed. Abdullah Öcalan's 76th birthday will be celebrated with a festival on 3-4 April at the 4 April Park in the centre of Xelfetî district and in the house where he was born. The celebration, which will be organised by the Democratic Institutions Platform, is expected to be attended by people from other cities.

 

Xelfetî Municipality Co-Mayor Saniye Bayram, who was replaced by a trustee, emphasised that the preparations were completed and said, "We will celebrate the Leader's birthday with a festival on 4 April. Especially women and young people should flock to this festival."

 

'PEOPLES' BIRTHDAY'

 

Co-Mayor of Xelfetî Municipality Mehmet Karayılan, who was replaced by a trustee, stated that their call is for all peoples and said, "Let's celebrate this day together. Mr Öcalan's call is not only for Kurds but for all the peoples living in this geography. The issue is not only a birthday, but also the birth of the peoples to democracy and peace. 4 April is the birthday of the peoples."

 

Ali Öcalan, the nephew of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, invited all peoples to the festival and said, "Let's celebrate 4 April together with great enthusiasm."

 

'THE CALL WILL BE EMBRACED'

 

Naime Bayram from the Free Women's Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA) stressed: "We will stand on the halaya at the festival. Turks, Kurds, Armenians, Alevis and Armenians are all invited to this halaya. We expect everyone to celebrate for peace regardless of religion, language and belief."

 

Kerem Canpolat, Co-Chair of Mezopotamya Prisoners' Families Legal Solidarity Association (MED TUHAD FED), drew attention to Abdullah Öcalan's call and said: "All our people should embrace this call. The message of embracing the call will be given during the celebrations. We will shout that we insist on the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue. We will insist on the state to take steps. We will declare once again on 4 April in Amara that we embrace the 'Call for Peace and Democratic Society'. Everyone should turn to Amara for peace."

 

DEM Party Amed (Diyarbakır) MP Ceylan Akça emphasised that we are going through a period of historical developments and called for participation in the birthday celebrations to raise the voice of peace.

 

MA / Emrullah Acar