Nazlıcan Nujin Yıldız - Neslihan Kardaş

 

WAN - Women called on the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission established in Parliament to listen to Abdullah Öcalan and ensure his physical freedom. The women said, “The path to peace lies through Öcalan's freedom.”

 

The Kurdish people's struggle against the Kurdish issue, which has been going on for years, entered a new phase with the “Call for Peace and a Democratic Society” made by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan on February 27. The historic steps taken by the PKK in response to Öcalan's call brought the process to a new stage, while the Kurdish people emphasized that the state must also take steps in response to these developments. In this context, the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission was established in Parliament to put the process on a legal and judicial footing. From day one, the Kurdish people stated that the commission must work to achieve an honorable peace and build a democratic society, adding that the commission must also listen to Abdullah Öcalan for this goal to be realized. The path to success in the process is seen as securing Abdullah Öcalan's physical freedom.

 

Women shared their views on the commission, which is one aspect of the process, with JINNEWS. 

 

'If our leader is free, peace will come naturally'

 

Beginning her remarks by saying, “Peace is beautiful,” Aysel Tam stated that the Kurdish people do not want bloodshed and do not want to lose their children, adding that their trust in the process has been shaken because the state has not taken any steps. Aysel Tam said, "They talk about peace, but they still haven't released our leader, the trustee system continues, the prisons are full. What kind of peace is this? There can be no peace like this. If there is to be peace, everyone must be equal. Some of them are dying, and some of ours are falling as martyrs. Enough is enough. Our leader says, ‘We have reached a certain level, now a political struggle must be waged.’ Our leader has taken a step, let them take a step too. The state must first release our leader, more comfortable, better conditions must be provided. If our leader is free, peace will come naturally."

 

‘Abdullah Öcalan is the representative of all oppressed peoples’

 

Aysel Tam, who said that Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan should also be heard by the commission formed in Parliament, said, “They are afraid to bring our leader to the commission. The commission cannot say a single word against our Leader. Because Abdullah Öcalan is no longer just the leader of the Kurds, but the leader of all oppressed peoples. He is the representative of all oppressed, massacred, and persecuted peoples. What are they doing? They are not bringing him to the commission; they don't dare. Our Leader is a philosopher. They cannot speak in front of a philosopher, but they are obliged to."

 

‘We have been waiting for our leadership for over twenty years’

 

Şirin Menteş expressed their heartfelt desire for peace, stating that they did not want either guerrilla mothers or soldier mothers to cry. Noting that mothers were fighting for peace, Şirin Menteş said, “We want our leadership to be free. We have been waiting for our Leader for over twenty years. We want peace, we want a solution, we want a just world. We are guerrilla mothers, martyr mothers, warrior mothers. Soldiers' mothers are like us, they should support us too. We want all peoples to live equally and fraternally." 

 

‘Abdullah Öcalan has taken a step, the state must take a step too’

 

Referring to the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission, Şirin Menteş emphasized that Abdullah Öcalan should also have a say in this commission. Wanting the state to take steps in response to those taken by Abdullah Öcalan, Şirin Menteş said, "Our leadership wants peace, let them want it too. Just as our leadership wants this peace for its own people, let them want peace for their own people. A solution must now be found. We want our leader to speak at the commission. We want unity and solidarity. Let there be no more bloodshed." 

 

‘We want to see Abdullah Öcalan in the commission’

 

Emphasizing that as a Kurd he has always been in favor of peace, Gazal Kurt also said that Kurds have always struggled and experienced many things up to this point. Referring to the historic step taken by the PKK, Gazal Kurt said: “If the weapons have been laid down, peace must definitely be brought about. They are unjustly holding so many people in prison. Abdullah Öcalan must be heard by the commission. We definitely want to see Abdullah Öcalan at the commission."