Women call for leader Ocalan’s release to steer peace process

On February 27, a delegation from the Equality and Peoples’ Democracy Party held a meeting with leader Abdullah Ocalan in Imrali Prison for the third time. Following the meeting, a press conference was held in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, where the leader's  historic call was read.

 This call, eagerly awaited by millions worldwide, including the people of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, has been described as a "historic call" and a significant opportunity for achieving peace in Turkey.

In this context, ANHA agency interviewed women from the city.

 The citizen Mayada Ramadan stated: "We were overjoyed to receive news from the leader and to see his image after 13 years—the last time we saw his photo was in 2013. We had hoped the call would be recorded so we could hear his voice, which we have not heard in 26 years."

 She further explained: "The call for peace is not new from the leader; he has always advocated for peace in all his meetings. However, it is the Turkish state that refuses to respond and persistently attempts to eliminate the Kurdish issue through military means. In his statement, the leader clarified the reasons behind armed struggle and the role of the armed revolution, which was necessary at the time to rescue the Kurdish cause from the policies of denial and extermination pursued by the Turkish state. His call is clear—implementing it will bring peace to the Middle East."

 Mayada Ramadan emphasized: "To advance the peace process, the leader must be released to lead this stage. The Turkish authorities must take serious steps and release him so he can guide this process, which will contribute to achieving the desired peace objectives."

 She further stated: "For us, as women, the liberation of leader Ocalan is a priority in our struggle. On this basis, we will continue our resistance until this goal is achieved, as our freedom is inherently tied to his freedom."

 Nuzha Saif al-Din also commented: "Despite several days passing since the leader's call and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announcing a suspension of its military operations against Turkey, the Turkish state has not demonstrated seriousness in its response. Its aircraft continue to bomb Kurdish areas. Therefore, it must commit to the statements it made following the leader's call, in which it announced the beginning of a new phase."

 Nuzha joined Mayada in affirming that "the leader’s physical freedom and his ability to lead the stage are fundamental conditions for initiating and advancing the peace process."

 For her part, Sakina Haj Mahmoud expressed her happiness upon hearing the leader’s call and seeing his image, which reassured them of his well-being. She said: "The leader’s speech was historic—a call for freedom and peace for both the Kurdish and Turkish peoples, aimed at ending the ongoing war and resolving the issue through dialogue while strengthening historical relations between the two peoples."

 Sakina Haj Mahmoud concluded: "We trust in our leader and his call. However, Turkey's past actions make us skeptical of its claims. To prove its seriousness, it must release our leader, as we believe in his ability to lead and succeed in the peace process. Additionally, all political detainees must be released, and a new constitution must be established for the country."

a.k

ANHA