Melike Aydin

 

IZMIR- Women travelling from Izmir to Amara said that Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan made Kurdish people realise their identity and empowered women, and that he should be released.

 

For the 76th birthday of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, women travelled from Izmir to Amara village in Xalfetî district of Riha. Women who travelled to Amara talked about their feelings.

 

‘His physical freedom must now be ensured’

 

Nihayet Keklik, who stated that he went to Amara with demands for freedom and peace, stated that on the birthday of the Kurdish People's Leader, he should be physically free. Nihayet Keklik stated that Abdullah Öcalan was a leader for the Kurdish people and said, "Our language was forbidden, we could not even say that we were Kurds. We did not know our identity. Our leader led us. We were not recognised anywhere, our leader made us wake up."

 

‘Only Abdullah Öcalan can bring peace’

 

Expressing that MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli pointed to Melezgirt for the PKK to convene its congress, Nihayet Keklik said, "Here they say that the Kurds have opened the door to the Turks. But there were massacres in Zilan and Dêrsim. They massacred even pregnant women and children in their wombs. After these great massacres, our Leader opened our eyes. Now he must be released. Only he will ensure peace."

 

‘He empowered Kurdish women against men’

 

Leyla Tufan, who stated that the isolation still continues and that the Kurdish People's Leader should be released, said: "We wish that he be released on his birthday. Without him, we would not recognise ourselves. Without him, we as women would continue to be oppressed by men. We would continue to be violated by men. Therefore, we are indebted to her."

 

‘All political prisoners must be released’

 

Leyla Tufan stated that prisons are full of the children of the Kurdish people and that all political prisoners, especially Abdullah Öcalan, should be released.

 

‘Prisoner for the freedom of all peoples of the world’

 

Stating that the leader of the Kurdish people has been imprisoned in İmralı for 26 years, Peace Mother Müzeyyen Kortak said, "We celebrate his birthday as all Kurdish people. As Mothers of Peace, we are travelling from street to street in the heat and cold. We want an honourable peace. However, our leader wants freedom not only for the Kurdish people but for all nations, for everyone, and he is already inside for this. He is in prison so that nations will no longer be exploited, so that they can stand on their own feet. Mothers' hearts are burning differently. For this reason, all mothers should join hands and fight for peace."