ISTANBUL- Peace Mothers, who have been continuously struggling for an honorable peace, stated that the effects of the war are felt in every field and that negotiations should be held with Abdullah Öcalan, the only person who can ensure peace.
People all over Turkey and Kurdistan are preparing to take to the streets on World Peace Day, against the war and isolation policies. In Istanbul, a mass demonstration will be held at Kadıköy İskele Square on September 1, World Peace Day.
Peace Mothers, who have been involved in the struggle for peace since the 1990s, spoke about their demands for an honorable peace and the path to it.
Sabiha Bozan
Peace Mother Sabiha Bozan (65) stated that they have applied to many places, especially the Ministry of Justice and the Parliament, for a lasting peace in Turkey. Bozan steted that despite their struggle in every field, Turkey has left their outstretched hand in the air and said: “We want a new negotiation with Abdullah Öcalan on World Peace Day. War is very easy, there is war everywhere in the world today, the important thing is to build peace. For this, Abdullah Öcalan must first meet with his lawyers and family. Abdullah Öcalan has not been allowed to meet with his family and lawyers for 42 months. The isolation deepens the war policies even more. First of all, a negotiation must take place. Then these oppressive policies in prisons must end.”
DEMAND FOR AN EQUAL AND HONORABLE PEACE
(Bedia Gökguz)
Peace Mother Bedia Gökguz (66) expressed her condolences for the murdered women journalists in the Federated Kurdistan Region. Expressing that the state continues to massacre their children as long as they want peace as mothers, “As Peace Mothers, we want an honorable, equal and free peace. When we say peace, the state imposes surrender and betrayal on us, saying 'if you accept these, there will be peace'. It is not possible for us to accept this. Yes, we want peace, but we want a peace where we can live in dignity, justice, freedom and equal conditions like all the peoples of the world” Gökguz said.
THE STRUGGLE OF KURD MOTHERS
Noting that the demand for peace has been raised all over the world on World Peace Day for years, Gökguz continued as follows: “In previous years we were detained on September 1st, World Peace Day just for saying peace. Why is the Kurdish people denied this right while the whole world is granted the right to peace? However, when we look at history, the Kurdish people have always been a people who have always wanted peace and have never declared war on any people, they have only defended themselves when they were attacked by others. For this reason, September 1st World Peace Day is a day identified with the Kurdish people. As Kurd mothers, we will always continue to demand peace as long as an honorable peace is not achieved in this country.”
'PAVE THE WAY FOR THOSE WHO WILL ENSURE PEACE'
(Maytap Toprak)
Peace Mother Maytap Toprak (56) stated that a great war is being waged against the Kurdish people. Noting that they want an honorable life like other peoples in the world, Toprak said: “We want our identity and language. We want to live our culture freely. Today, if even 10-year-old children talk more about war than peace, everyone is responsible for this.”
Reminding Öcalan's statement on the solution of the Kurdish issue, “I can solve this in a week”, Toprak said that those who cannot achieve peace should pave the way for those who can.
(Güler Buğday)
Güler Buğday (75) said that World Peace Day is important, but that no one in the world truly embraces peace. Stating that the word peace in the world is only on paper, “When we look at the Middle East today, blood is flowing. Although it is not called a war, there has been a war in Kurdistan for 40-50 years. Persecution and denial are increasing. Every war in the world has ended in peace. As a mother we say peace, peace, peace. Everything is allowed in these lands, but they cannot tolerate peace, they always want war” she said.
Emphasizing that those who started the war do not want peace, Buğday drew attention to what is happening in Palestine. Stating that the rulers continue the war to protect their seats, Buğday called on all democrats, socialists and people of conscience to stand against the war.