Riha (Urfa)- The Free Women’s Movement (Kurdish: Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA) organized a festival called in the Xelfetî (Halfeti) district of Riha (Urfa) on Thursday to mark the 76th birthday of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan with participation of thousands from different cities of Kurdistan and Türkiye.

The people gathered at the April 4th Park in the district and danced halay. The festival was also attended by Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar and Keskin Bayındır, Co-chairs of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), Abdullah Öcalan’s brother Mehmet Öcalan, the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) MPs and members of the Peace Mothers’ Initiative.

At the festival, people chanted slogans such as “Bijî Serok Apo (English: Long live leader Apo)” and “Bijî berxwedana zîndana (English: Long live the resistance in prisons)”.

Young people arrived in Xelfeti

The members of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Youth Council, who started a march on April 1, 2025, arrived in Xelfetî on Thursday by chanting the “Bijî Serok Apo” and “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî (English: Women, Life, Freedom)” despite all the obstacles.

Torch march by women

The members of the TJA lit 76 torches at the festival to mark the 76th birthday of Abdullah Öcalan. The women carried out torches and chanted “Rojbûna te pîroz be ey Serok Apo (English: Happy birthday leader Apo)”.