‘We have paid a great price, we insist on peace’ 

2025-06-11 11:08:58


	 

	 

	RIHA - Reacting to the fact that no concrete step has been taken since Abdullah Öcalan's historic call, women said, "We want peace in a free society, we have paid a great price. We insist on peace."

	 

	Following Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's call for ‘Peace and Democratic Society’ on 27 February, the PKK's declaration of a ceasefire and the subsequent congress and dissolution decision were announced. While there has not yet been any development regarding the steps to be taken by the government regarding the process, the 10th Judicial Package passed by the Parliament did not meet the expectations. On the other hand, with the statements made, Abdullah Öcalan's freedom and the release of prisoners are demanded as soon as possible.

	 

	Women spoke to JINNEWS about the current process.

	 

	‘We have not seen any steps taken’

	 

	Emine Yaşar demanded the release of the prisoners in prison as soon as possible and shared that especially sick prisoners are kept under difficult conditions and their health conditions are getting worse. Emine Yaşar said, "We were looking forward to peace, but we cannot see any concrete steps taken. Our prisoners have rotted in prisons. We demand the release of our leader and all our prisoners. This is an insult to human dignity. How long will it continue. We have been seeing this persecution for years."

	 

	‘We have been persecuted for years’

	 

	Stating that her brother Salih Yaşar is in prison for participating in the April 4th event, Emine Yaşar said, "My brother has been in prison for 8 years for participating in the April 4th event, for throwing a stone. This is insult, persecution. They have been persecuting us for years. Then they get up and say, ‘you threw stones at us."

	 

	‘May our leader regain his freedom’

	 

	Peace Mother İslim Demir reacted to the state's failure to take the necessary steps for peace with the following words: "We have been continuing our resistance for peace for years. They express peace with their words. But they do nothing with their hearts. They insult our people and tell lies. We want all our prisoners in prison to be released. Enough is enough. They said, ‘The guerrillas should lower their weapons.’ The guerrillas lowered their weapons, but they do not stand behind their words. Enough is enough, whatever is necessary for peace must be done. We have no faith in any promise of the state. We want our leader to regain his freedom and be among us. We demand the release of all prisoners in this case."

	 

	‘We are in favour of peace’

	 

	Peace Mother Emine Korkmaz, who stated that her three children participated in the struggle for freedom and that two of her children lost their lives in clashes on different dates, emphasised that they insist on peace despite the costs. Emine Korkmaz said, "We are in favour of peace. We want our guerrillas in the mountains to come back among us. We do not want any mother to cry anymore. We want peace. My sons Abdullah and Mehmet were martyred, my other son Yavuz is still alive. We want this to come to an end. We knew that my two martyred sons were neither alive nor dead. They did not even give us their funerals."

	 

	‘We don't want to cry anymore’

	 

	Stating that great prices were paid in this struggle, but the resistance continues like the first day, Justice Çay, Mother of Peace, said "We have a call to all segments in this process. We are tired now, we have paid great prices, but we still insist on peace. We do not want any mother to cry. Let there be a brotherhood now. Nothing can be achieved with blood and war, let flowers and roses bloom where guns will explode, let this persecution stop. As mothers, we have cried until now, we don't want to cry anymore. We were at the Amed march the other day, we always emphasised that we want peace everywhere. We are struggling for an honourable and dignified life. We do not want to be prisoners or slaves. We want to live in a free society with our own values."