Following Kurdish Peopl’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan’s call broadcast on July 9, the “Peace and Democratic Society Group” is expected to destroy their weapons today. The ceremony, which will take place in a rural area of Sulaymaniyah in the Federated Kurdistan Region, is eagerly awaited not only in Turkey and Kurdistan but across the entire region. 

 

In many cities, people are glued to their screens to watch the event. Numerous families who lost loved ones wathcin Medya Haber TV and Stêrk TV in Êlih (Batman) and Amed (Diyarbakır), Mêrdîn (Mardin), Şirnex (Şırnak), Adana, Riha (Urfa) have gathered together.

 

A mother waiting for the ceremony in Amed through tears said: “I am crying out of happiness, not for any other reason. Peace will come.”

 

Mehdiye Kaptan, who lost her son during the conflict, said in Êlih: “None of us are free until our leader (Öcalan) is free. Let no mother cry anymore, neither Kurdish nor Turkish mothers. Let’s end this process with peace. Our hearts have been wounded; let this situation end with us, and let’s crown this process with peace.”

 

Peace Mother Makbule Demir, 62, is among those who watch the speacial broadcast before the ceremony in Cizîr (Cizre) district in Şirnex. She said, “Today is a historic day. We are excited and happy. We have been for this day for many years. We have hope and we trust ourselves. It is an auspicious day for the whole Middle East.” 

 

She stressed state must take steps and added: “Our leader (Abdullah Ocalan), our political prisoners must be released. Our leader must make his voice heard by the people, we must be able to see him. The people want this. We want to see a concrete step. Legal arrangements should be made as soon as possible.”

 

Peace Mother Ayşe Alağaş is among those waiting for the ceremony with applause and the slogan "Bijî Serok Apo (Long live Leader Apo)” in Adana. She said: "The guerrilla is laying down their weapons for peace. We expect Erdoğan and Devlet Bahçeli to take steps for peace. We want political prisoners to be released, this system of oppression to end, we want our identities and our language." 

 

Expressing that they are happy that the blood, tears and deaths will stop, Peace Mother Emine Çığ emphasised the demand for peace. 

 

Peace Mother Süphiye Bayav demanded that all mothers, especially the mothers of soldiers and police officers, should join hands in order to establish an honourable peace in the country. 

 

Describing today as a holiday, Peace Mother Gaze Özlü said that as mothers they have seen a lot of torture, persecution, oppression and death and wished that this would come to an end. 

 

Peace Mother Sebiha Akdeniz asked for the process to evolve into an honourable peace and called on all mothers to struggle. 

 

Ergül Çiçek stated that the Kurdish people are fighting for their existence and livelihood and demanded peace.