PELÎN NÛPELDA

Qamishlo- The “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan on February 27, 2025 started a new process. Following the call, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (Kurdish: Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê, PKK) held its 12th Congress in the Medya Defense Zones between May 5 and May 7, 2025. On May 12, the PKK announced that it “dissolves itself and ends its armed struggle”.

The mothers of fighters, who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom, in the city of Dêrik, North and East Syria’s Jazira Canton, expressed their support for the new process.

The congress of the PKK was held “thanks to the year-long struggle, ideology and philosophy of leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan),” said Fatimê Hemîd, one of the mothers.

“The congress was held despite the intensified attacks and bombardment. The guerrillas fight for the freedom of their country and their identity. The ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society’ by leader Apo started a new process in Kurdistan and Türkiye in order to stop bloodshed and end the war.”

‘The Turkish state must take a step’

Fatimê Hemîd called on the Turkish state to take an immediate step for peace. “As mothers of martyrs, we follow the path of leader Apo. The ideology and philosophy of the PKK are recognized all around the world and they have waged a struggle for peace and freedom of the people. Their struggle is not only for the Kurdish people but also for humanity. The Turkish state must take an immediate step for peace and democracy.”

She also called on everyone demanding peace and freedom to take responsibility. “We do not want any more war in the Middle East. It is time to stop the war. As mothers, we have lost our children and we do not want other mothers to lose their children.”

‘We demand peace’

Qaniya Abdulkerîm Hacî also called on the Turkish state to take an immediate step for peace.

“We don't want bloodshed anymore. Leader Apo previously made great efforts to start a peace process; however, the Turkish state did not take any step. The intense attacks on guerrillas continue even now. We are ready to lay down our arms if our demands are accepted. We have been struggling for 50 years and we have thousands of martyrs.”

‘We are a nation demanding peace’

The Turkish state must recognize our rights, Qaniya Abdulkerîm Hacî emphasized. “The Turkish state must take a step for peace right now. All people have the right to practice their language and live in their country. We are a nation demanding peace.”