The enthusiasm for the festival planned for the 76th birthday of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan with the slogan "Free Leader and Democratic Society" in Riha's (Urfa) Xelfetî (Halfeti) district started early.

 

Citizens gathered in front of the Xelfetî district office of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party before the festival, which was planned to start at 13.00 at 4 Nisan Park in the district centre. The masses stood in a halaya accompanied by Kurdish songs and then marched towards the festival area. The crowd, including Abdullah Öcalan's brother Mehmet Öcalan and members of parliament, arrived at the festival area and stopped to dance to songs.

 

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On the other hand, thousands of people travelling from different cities in Kurdistan and Turkey to attend the festival started to reach the district through various routes. Necessary preparations have been completed in the festival area. 

 

Music concerts, panels and speeches will be organised within the scope of the festival which will start at 13.00 local time. DEM Party Youth Assembly members, who have been marching for three days with the slogan "We march to freedom with a democratic society", will participate in the festival at 16.00 local time.

 

The festival will continue tomorrow. The activities will continue with a march to Amara at 13.00 under the leadership of Free Women's Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA).