RIHA - Cemile Öcalan, 95, lost 6 of her children during the conflict. She stated that her pain would be alleviated with a lasting peace and said, " We buried our most beautiful children to see a beautiful day."

 

Following Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society" on 27 February, PKK held its 12th Congress on 5-7 May. Then announced that it had ended its activities.

 

The steps taken by the PKK with the call of Abdullah Öcalan raised the hope for peace among the public. Women who lost their children in the Kurdish freedom struggle and whose relatives are imprisoned have called for steps to be taken.

 

İslim Yılmaz, 82, sister of Bazo Yılmaz, 67, a seriously ill prisoner who died in Urfa T-Type Closed Prison No 2 on 18 August 2022, said, "We want peace. We want the mothers of soldiers and guerrillas to stop crying. We want our Leader (Abdullah Öcalan) to be released from prison. We have seen so much pain. Mothers cannot bear the death of young people. I visited Bozo before he died in prison, he was very weak. He was ill but they did not let him go. No one should lose their lives in prisons."

 

Bazo Yılmaz's sister Kamile Şen, 65, said, "We don't want anyone to go to prison. We don't want anyone to breathe their last breath handcuffed to a stretcher. Let peace and freedom come. No one should stay in prisons. The state should also want peace. We received a coffin from prison, no family should receive a coffin from prison. Ill prisoners must be released as soon as possible."

 

CALL TO THE MOTHERS OF SOLDIERS

 

Adile Sarıkaya, 70, who lost her son Faruk Sarıkaya 9 years ago in the fight against ISIS in Kobanê, said: "My son lost his life in Kobanê, but they did not allow his body to be brought to me and he was buried there. The state should also take steps to stop the mothers from crying. The mothers of soldiers should also come and support this process. The colour of their tears is the same," he said.

 

'IT IS THE STATE'S TURN TO TAKE STEPS'

 

Emine Yaşar, 65, who has many relatives in prisons, said, "We are always under persecution. We have never seen the light of day. Now we want to see good days. Our leader has taken steps, now it is time for the state to take steps. The PKK held a congress and stopped its activities, but Turkey continues to attack with warplanes. This means 'I don't want peace'. We want peace.”

 

'BROTHERHOOD COMES WITH EQUALITY'

 

Peace Mother Cemile Öcalan, 95, who lost her 6 children at different times in the Kurdish freedom struggle, said: "The time for peace to come to this land has come and gone. Everyone can live like brothers and sisters. How long will this persecution continue. My children Faysal, Fikret, Faik, Feridun, Zübeyde and Belgin lost their lives in this struggle. If peace comes, their pain will be alleviated. I want to see peace even for one day before I die. The state should take the right steps. The state must stop oppressing people. They talk about brotherhood, but brotherhood comes through equality, not through oppression. We buried our most beautiful children to see a beautiful day."

 

MA / Emrullah Acar