MEHMAN HALBIN ZEYDAN

 

Van - Despite losing their sons during the years of conflict, the Mothers of Peace in the city of Van in northern Kurdistan affirm their commitment to the option of peace and their rejection of the continuation of violence, calling for practical steps to strengthen the political process, foremost among them the release of leader Abdullah Ocalan and political prisoners, considering this an entry point for building trust and achieving lasting peace between the Kurds and the Turks.

 

More than a year has passed since the launch of the “Peace and Democratic Society” process announced by leader Abdullah Ocalan. While the Kurds have taken practical steps to advance the peace process, the state has not yet taken similar steps, and has merely made promises and given speeches in parliament about peace. In contrast, citizens continue to organize events and demand that legal measures be taken and that leader Abdullah Ocalan be granted his physical freedom.

Mothers of those who lost their lives in the conflict are among the most prominent supporters of the peace process, continuing to advocate for it even though some of them have lost more than one son. Zuleikha Bor, one of the peace mothers in the city of Van in northern Kurdistan, whose son is imprisoned on political charges, says that re Confidence in the process: "We want the prison doors to open, to see our leader among us free, and we also want the process to move forward and peace to be achieved as soon as possible.

" For her part, Amina Ingöder said that the peace process should not be limited to Turkey: "Our appeal is to the world, especially women, to support this process. Leader Öcalan started this initiative a year and a half ago, but the state has not taken any steps so far. The demand of women, mothers, and the people is to guarantee the physical freedom of the leader, as is the case with the leaders of all peoples. We want our leader to be among his people and to be able to meet with the various components of society. The day we see him free will be a day of freedom for us, and until his physical freedom is achieved, we cannot talk about our freedom. This has been delayed for too long."leasing political prisoners will strengthen

She emphasized that the Mothers of Peace's demand is for the Kurdish and Turkish peoples to live together in peace, for no more bloodshed, and for no Kurdish or Turkish mother to weep. "We, the Mothers of Peace, are on this path because we have paid the highest price, and we don't want any mother to lose her son." She added, "We must act quickly, open the prison doors, immediately release sick prisoners, and not extend the detention periods of any detainee," adding, "We are committed to the will of the leader, as he is the only leader who granted women their rights, and therefore women demand his physical freedom. There is no one in the world who carries his ideas and goals."

Gülbeyaz Mahçi describes the Peace and Democratic Society process as a "sacred process," adding, "A year and a half has passed, but the state hasn't taken any steps. We all want peace, just as the leader wants it. He called for a ceasefire, the PKK declared its dissolution and burned its weapons, and now the state must take a similar step."

 

She emphasized that the Mothers of Peace's demand is for the Kurdish and Turkish peoples to live together in peace, for no more bloodshed, and for no Kurdish or Turkish mother to weep. "We, the Mothers of Peace, are on this path because we have paid the highest price, and we don't want any mother to lose her son."

 

She added, "We must act quickly, open the prison gates, release sick prisoners immediately, and not extend the detention periods of any detainees." "We are committed to the will of the leader, for he is the only leader who has granted women their rights, and therefore women demand his bodily freedom. There is no one in the world who carries his ideas and goals."

Hêlaz Kêsirci, for her part, believes that the Kurdish people must first unite. "We will not be fooled anymore. Our youth and children spend their lives in prisons, and we have not even been able to find the bones of our loved ones for years. That is why we want peace." She stated that "the Kurdish people are not a people who love injustice; they are a people who seek peace, and we must unite our ranks to achieve peace and freedom."

She believes that "if the process remains one-sided, it will not succeed. The Kurds have been deceived for too long, but that will not happen again. We will stand by our leader in his efforts to achieve peace, and the state must take the initiative to guarantee his physical freedom."

Amîna Atak,for her part, affirms that leader Abdullah Öcalan”struggled for all oppressed peoples” and that his physical liberation is essential.”As long as leader Öcalan is not free, no one will attain their freedom. If he were released and sick prisoners were freed, we would have seen a positive step, but that has not happened.if he is not free, we will not be free either.”

She added: “They must take serious steps so that we can trust them. As long as they do not take any step, we have no trust. Since a year and a half ago, we began to feel some hopw after leader Öcalan’s initiative, but his physical freedom has not yet been achieved. He must be released without further delay so that we may all enjoy freedom.”