The vigil launched on the Nisêbîn (Nusaybin)-Qamishlo border against the attacks of Turkey and the Syrian National Army (SNA) against North and East Syria continues on its 18th day. Members of the Religious Scholars Assistance and Solidarity Association (DİAYDER) also visited the vigil, which is supported by various social groups every day. 

 

Dr. Şükrü Erdoğan, a member of DİAYDER, stated that Turkey's political mind is shaped on destroying the Kurds and that Kurds have no problem with Turks and that they know this from Malazgirt, Idris-i Bitlisî and Saladin Ayyubi. Stating that Kurds are a reality of the Middle East that cannot be ignored, “There has been bloodshed for 40-46 years and no people, including Kurds, deserve this situation. This is not the right approach. Kurds have never posed a threat to anyone. They need to review their centuries-old politics. The biggest problem of humanity is the inability to learn from history. This century-long process has not benefited the Kurdish, Turkish and Arab communities,” he said. 

 

'WE MUST HAVE STATUS'

 

Pointing to the nation-state as the source of the current problems, Erdoğan said that the nation-state understanding has collapsed everywhere and added: “They are struggling to prevent its collapse, but there is no solution. Today, Kurds' acceptance of Assyrians, Yazidis, Alevis and Arabs is in the name of humanity. This is a universal and humanist system. But the peoples of the Middle East are not ready for this. There is such a reality. Because capitalism has made Islamic society ungrateful and hollowed it out. They have no tolerance due to this. We should have a place in the Middle East like every other society and people and we should have a status.” 

 

'THE SOLUTION IS FOR PEOPLES TO DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS'

 

Yusuf Aydan, one of the members of the association, who stated that today death is seen as a punishment for those who express that they are Kurdish, “The people of Rojava are an ancient people. Rojava is the land of the people there. Other people went to their lands, occupied them and persecuted them. Everyone should protect the people in Rojava. If we do not stand up for them today, if we remain silent, no one will stand up for us tomorrow. That people have not had an identity for years, now they want to have an identity. The solution is for the peoples to defend their rights,” he said.  

 

'THE OPPRESSED HAVE NO RELIGION, LANGUAGE OR RACE'

 

Mahmut Şık, one of the members of the association, stated that the attacks against Rojava are being carried out through religion and continued as follows: “As it is mentioned in the holy book, 'All believers are brothers.' But they don't end the verse. Because it doesn't match the interests of some people. The oppressed have no religion, language or race. For this reason, it is necessary to fight together with the oppressed. In the case of Rojava, we should thank Mr. Abdullah Öcalan for his philosophy. Because this philosophy, which includes rights and law, creates the resurrection of all oppressed peoples. Those who want to rule Rojava today support the groups they declared 'terrorist' in the past because they did not fit their interests, but today they support them because it suits their interests. Everyone who says they are religious and pious must stand by the oppressed and fight for them. Just as it is obligatory for a person who says 'I am religious' to pray, it is equally obligatory for him to fight for the oppressed, and he must also fight for peace between peoples.”

 

'KURDS ARE NOT THE KURDS OF OLD'

 

Mehmet Güzetici, one of the members of the association, said: “We are one. There is no difference between Rojava, Rojhilat, Bakur and Bashur. This is how the enemies separated us. We do not accept this. Kurds are one piece wherever they are. We have come here from Amed as religious scholars. The whole world should know that the Kurdish people are no longer the same. They are a people who know the way, who are successful and admired by the world. We condemn and reject this persecution against Rojava. Persecution against Kurds is unacceptable. There are millions of Kurds in Turkey today and it has to accept Kurds. We absolutely do not accept their attacks on Rojava and we stand with the Rojava people. We wish success to all Kurdish people. The whole world should know that the Kurds have always defended themselves and do not covet anyone's land. They have never oppressed anyone and never will.”