Thousands Protest in Cologne for Release of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan

Frankfurt, Germany, Nov 17 – Thousands of people marched in Cologne on Saturday, demanding the release of Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the Kurdish PKK group, who has been imprisoned in Turkey since 1999. The protest came 25 years after his arrest.

The march follows recent comments from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said he wanted to “reach out to our Kurdish brothers.” The head of Erdogan’s nationalist party, Devlet Bahçeli, has even suggested Öcalan could speak in parliament about ending the PKK, raising hopes for his release.

Protesters carried banners with Öcalan’s image, but Cologne police removed some PKK-related symbols, which are banned in Germany. The PKK is considered a terrorist group by Turkey and its allies.

The PKK has fought against the Turkish state since 1984, causing over 40,000 deaths. Many Kurds who live in Germany are also seeking asylum due to the ongoing conflict.