Thousands head to Bağcılar Square to demand freedom for leader Abdullah Ocalan

"Freedom March" is being held in the Bağcılar district of Istanbul to demand the physical freedom of leader Abdullah Ocalan. Before the event began, thousands of people gathered in front of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEVA) building in Bağcılar, and the crowds marched towards the square chanting slogans including: "Long live Leader APO," "No life without the Leader," and "Long live the prison resistance."

An extremist nationalist group gathered nearby in an attempt to provoke the participants, while another group drove around the area in cars displaying Turkish flags and chanting extremist nationalist slogans. However, these attempts at provocation failed, and the participants continued their march toward the rally site.

The residents entered the square, which was decorated with DEM party flags, and sang Kurdish songs and performed traditional Kurdish dances, chanting "Long live Leader APO !" Banners were raised bearing slogans such as "We send you greetings today for the freedom of our people," and another that read, "The youth will tear down the walls of Imrali, and Zilan's comrades will achieve freedom."

Thousands of people are still waiting at checkpoints to enter the rally site.

Participants in the event came from the provinces of Balıkesir, Bursa, Yalova, Kocaeli, Tekirdağ, and Edirne.

ANHA