Germany: Kurdish activists to demonstrate in Dusseldorf on April 15

Event

Kurdish activist groups will lead a rally and demonstration in Dusseldorf on April 15 in solidarity with the imprisoned founder of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan. Organizers will call for an end to Ocalan's isolation and his immediate release. Participants will gather outside the German Trade Union Confederation building on Friedrich Ebert Street from 11:00 for a rally. A demonstration through the area along an unspecified route will commence at 12:00.

Although attendance levels are unclear, precedent suggests more than 1,000 activists will participate. Authorities will almost certainly deploy additional police to monitor and facilitate the event. Localized travel disruptions are likely. Increased congestion is likely at the nearby Dusseldorf Main Train Station as participants arrive and depart from the area. Widespread violence is not anticipated.

Advice

Avoid all demonstrations as a routine security precaution and to mitigate associated disruptions. Check public transport schedules and local traffic conditions for disruptions before beginning journeys; allow extra time to reach destinations in central Dusseldorf.