AKIN STERK

Amed — After decades of war and conflict, leaving behind loss, arrests, exile, and accumulated pain, mothers who have lost their children and relatives view the peace path as an opportunity to end the cycle of violence and open the way to a lasting solution.

However, their testimonies also reflect a state of anxiety over the slowness of the process and the inadequacy of steps taken so far. They affirm that peace cannot be achieved through laws alone; it requires concrete political and legal measures to rebuild trust and guarantee rights and freedoms.

"Unless Leader Öcalan's Freedom Is Achieved, We Will Not Be Free Either"

Makbule Açıkgöz, who lost her son Khabat Açıkgöz (Caverash Amed), along with one of her brothers and her son-in-law during the war, said that the peace path does not align with their aspirations, affirming that Kurds have become more aware of their rights and will not retreat from their demands or allow them to be circumvented.

She added that their fundamental demands include the right to language and identity. "We want to live in our language, for our children to be educated in it, and to read and write freely in our language."

She affirmed that the success of the peace path requires practical and genuine steps, emphasizing that the laws enacted remain below their aspirations, and that "one cannot speak of Kurdish freedom without achieving Leader Öcalan's freedom."

She called on parliament to take serious steps guaranteeing the physical freedom of Leader Öcalan, urging the overcoming of differences and the building of unity on the basis of love and brotherhood, and moving forward toward lasting and genuine peace.

"Let Us Unite"

Hajira Alkan affirmed that the peace path carries a historic and important character, noting that its success requires legal amendments that prepare a genuine ground for lasting peace, and open the way for the return of detainees, those in the mountains, and those in exile to their homeland. "We want to build an environment of peace, where everyone lives as brothers. They must issue the necessary laws and bring everyone back to their homeland."

She affirmed that the struggle is tied to identity and language, and that continued arrests and the absence of Leader Öcalan's physical freedom prevent the building of trust with the authorities. "Unless prison doors are opened and Leader Öcalan gains his physical freedom, I have no trust in the authorities."

She criticized the new laws, considering them insufficient to achieve their aspirations, and called for their amendment. She affirmed: "We have only wanted peace for years. As long as we exist, we will preserve our identity and language and hold onto them."

"Let Our Children's Wishes Be Fulfilled"

Amina Al, who lost her son Muhammed Shiyar Al (Jiya Amed), while her daughter Kilistan Al was arrested and sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment, affirmed that her fundamental demand is to fulfill what she considers her children's wishes, calling on various segments of society to adopt peace.

She said that Leader Öcalan has been calling for peace for years, and that the current path came within the framework of these calls, affirming that peace should not remain the demand of one party alone. "We Kurds want peace. We want Turks to want peace too. We have always demanded peace, and we will continue to demand it."

She linked peace to the recognition of linguistic and cultural rights, calling for granting the Kurdish language legal and official status, and urged various components—Alawites, Circassians, Syriacs, Turks, and Kurds—to unite their positions for peace.

She affirmed that opening prison doors and ensuring Leader Öcalan's physical freedom are, for her, essential conditions for achieving peace. "I want prison doors to be opened, for our children to come out from between four walls. Our leader should also gain his physical freedom. We want him to be among his people. Peace will not come unless Leader Öcalan is free."

"Peace Is the Solution to All Problems"

Sungül Şükür explained that a number of her relatives lost their lives during the years of conflict, affirming that advancing the peace path requires stronger legal arrangements and practical steps that open the way to a lasting solution, noting that current laws remain insufficient.

She said: "We want peace. Our leader must gain his freedom. Laws should be enacted that open the way to a lasting solution. The current laws are insufficient and far from being a solution."

She emphasized that families can no longer bear the continuation of conflict and further casualties, saying: "No one should die anymore. Peace is the solution to all problems." She called on the state to take serious and swift steps, affirming that building peace requires a proper ground, an end to conflict policies, and the strengthening of unity. "If the right steps are taken, peace can be achieved. Peace must be built on a proper ground without delay."

An Ongoing Struggle for 50 Years

In the same context, Manija Yeni, who lost her son Zindan Yeni (Dicvar Şerzan) four years ago, criticized the slowness of the peace path, affirming that about a year and a half since its beginning has not, in her view, seen the sufficient steps that families are waiting for. "We have now reached an important stage, but we still do not see the steps we are waiting for."

She noted that the party demanding peace has taken several steps, including the destruction of weapons, holding the congress, and taking the decision of dissolution, affirming in turn the need for similar steps from the other side. "We have confidence in ourselves, and we took the first steps. Weapons were burned, the congress was held, and the decision of dissolution was taken. I too lost my son, yet I want the necessary steps to be taken."

She questioned the reasons for the authorities' slowness, considering that a process of this magnitude cannot bear further delay, especially after decades of conflict. "Why is the authorities' pace so slow? There has been an ongoing struggle for 50 years. True, not everything can be achieved in one year, but the process should not proceed at such a slow pace." She noted that taking sincere and concrete steps would help rebuild trust among families.

"Let Us Unite Our Colors"

Şefika Beyazid emphasized the need for the peace path to advance on a democratic and peaceful ground, affirming that mothers can no longer bear the continuation of conflict and bloodshed. "We want this path to advance in a peaceful and democratic manner. We no longer want bloodshed. This path was delayed and should have started much earlier."

She noted that starting the path earlier would have spared the country the loss of more young people. "If it had started then, all these young people would not have lost their lives, and all these mothers would not have wept."

She called on various segments of society to unite and participate in making the peace path succeed, affirming that differences in languages and identities should not be a reason for division. "Today, all segments of society should come together, unite, and manage this path together. All peoples are colors. Come, let us unite our colors."