A group of about 25 Kurdish supporters of Abdullah Öcalan stormed the European Parliament plenary chamber in Strasbourg early Wednesday afternoon (February 15) into the plenary chamber of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, chanting slogans calling for his release.
Today marks 24 years since the day Öcalan was abducted, transported to Kenya, and handed over to the Turkish authorities. Since 1999, Abdullah Öcalan has been held in the maximum-security prison on the island of Imrali, where he is the sole inmate.
The protesters were holding flags and banners bearing Öcalan’s face and climbed onto the balcony of the chamber, causing a commotion. European Parliament security personnel intervened to remove the supporters, and as they approached them, several of them moved in front of the balcony’s protective glass, threatening to jump.
Business at the European Parliament in Strasbourg has been suspended after a debate on environmental plans was disrupted from the public gallery. @virginmedianews pic.twitter.com/8tjL63RlSZ
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) February 15, 2023
According to international media reports, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola was escorted out of the chamber.
The European Parliament's plenary session was temporarily suspended for security reasons; the chamber was evacuated, while authorities are investigating the route taken by the intruders.
See photos from the protest:
https://twitter.com/Antifa_Entsy/status/1625817255576498179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1625817255576498179%7Ctwgr%5Ee3b77d77baf8d2e836505e72a9b32dd7ff500d67%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fleft.gr%2Fnews%2Feisvoli-koyrdon-opadon-toy-otsalan-sto-eyrokoinovoylio-diakopike-i-synedriasi
