Gülistan Azak 

 

DİYARBAKIR - We handed our microphone to women living in Diyarbakır on the occasion of September 1, World Peace Day. The women, who say that they do not believe that peace will be achieved in the short term due to the discriminatory and sexist policies of the government, underline that they do not give up hope, and they see the democratic solution of the Kurdish problem as the ground for peace.

 

Internationally celebrated, 1 September World Peace Day is greeted in the shadow of conflicts, racist attacks and denialism. While the preparations for the rallies and statements regarding the demand for peace in the provinces of the region were continuing, we asked the people of Diyarbakır what kind of peace they wanted by handing a microphone on the subject.

 

‘Freedom of thought is the first condition for peace’

 

Stating that democracy must be improved first in order to achieve peace, Esin Kılıç said: ‘’For one thing, we do not live in a democratic country. Unfortunately, we became refrain to express our thoughts and ideas. Can peace be achieved with this hesitation? There is no freedom of thought. A country that even interferes to your thought. Everyone is classified. As a woman, I want to live in peace. In this, the first condition may be to ensure freedom of thought.’’

 

‘Peace is hard to achieve as long as there is hate language’

 

Student Gamze Yakut said that the reason for the lack of peace is the language of hate, and said: ‘’As long as there is a language of hate in the country, peace is hard to achieve. Peace requires responsibility. Everyone should shoulder this responsibility. Where there is no peace, there will be injustice, the fight will not end. Wars and deaths occur in lands where fighting and violence do not end. As we see now. It is necessary to put an end to this injustice as soon as possible.’’

 

‘We don’t want war and death’

 

Describing peace as ‘’the dream of a country in blossom’’, student Beritan Ceren Aslan; she noted that she does not believe that this dream will come true in these lands where femicides and massacres against nature are experienced. Beritan said: ‘’Women are killed in the country. Or, women, by using their self-defense, are forced to kill the man who used violence against them who unpunished. As a young woman, I was exposed to harassment and violence many times. I was threatened with death. I want women and thoughts to be free. I want to live in a free world. As the people of Diyarbakır, we do not want war, we do not want death.’’

 

‘I hope peace comes to Kurdistan’

 

Pointing to the policies of denial towards the Kurds, Ayşe Doğan emphasized that peace cannot be achieved in the country until the Kurdish problem is solved. Ayşe said: ‘’Peace is difficult in this country with the Kurdish hostility imposed on the Turks. Peace cannot be made with racism and denial. There is an incredible Kurdish hostility right now. Racism is at the highest level. Turks need to overcome this racism imposed on them. We see examples of peace in the world. It is not difficult to achieve peace. The mentality problem that makes peace difficult and impossible. Actually, I think the country has a Turkish problem rather than a Kurdish one. Because the Kurds have always wanted peace. Those who drag this problem into a deadlock are creating the biggest problem. If peace is not desired, I think Kurdistan should be established. Currently, Kurdistan is being colonized. Our language and culture are banned. September 1 is also my birthday. All I want is peace. I hope peace will come to Kurdistan.’’

 

‘There is nothing but fascism in the country’

 

Berfin Ezin said that her belief in the establishment of an atmosphere of peace due to divisive policies has weakened and said: ‘’The Turkish-Kurdish, Alevi-Sunni debate still continues. This mentality must first be ended in order to achieve peace. The first condition for peace is unity. For example, I am from Diyarbakır. When I go west, I am excluded. I do not think this is peace. It is called sibling, but sibling kills sibling. This is not peace, it cannot be. Unfortunately, we are experiencing these difficulties. There is nothing but fascism in this country.’’

 

‘Peace is far away, but hope is also important’

 

Şeval Anık said: ‘’If there was peace, would we be in this situation now? If there was peace, there would be fraternity, people would be locked into each other. Happiness would flowed from our faces. But now look, is it like this? People need to be interlocked in order to achieve peace. There is no freedom without peace. Where there is no peace, there is war and unhappiness. Peace seems far away, but it is also important to hope, of course.”