HDP Amed parliamentary candidate Feleknas Uca said she would endeavour to be the voice of women sold by ISIS in slave markets.  Uca said: “We will win all the seats in Amed”.

Feleknas Uca, who was born in Celle in Germany in 1976, was a German Left Party MEP between 1999 and 2009. From December 2012 to June 2014 she was co-president of the Yazidi Federation in Europe. Since July 2014 she has lived in Amed and been a member of the Presidential Council of the DTK. In the event of being elected, Feleknas Uca will be the first Yazidi MP elected to the Turkish Parliament.

Feleknas Uca, who is fourth on the HDP list in Amed, answered our questions regarding the importance of the elections and what she will do in parliament for Yazidi women and the identity of her people.

You are standing in these elections, which are considered one of the most important elections in the history of the Republic, in Amed. How do you evaluate these elections?

The 2015 general elections are perhaps the most important elections that have ever taken place in Turkey, as regards the potential political effects. It is also a referendum. A referendum for what? To decide whether we will have peace or war. There is a choice between the AKP mentality of one language, one race, one state and the pluralist, democratic vision of the HDP. We strongly believe that our people will opt for the HDP and democracy on 7 June.

Turkey is living through one of its most chaotic periods under the AKP government and the dictatorship of Tayyip Erdoğan. The HDP is the people’s hope for peace and democracy. As the AKP realises this it is attacking the HDP at every opportunity and trying to prevent it succeeding.

What is the atmosphere like in Amed? How do the people greet you?

We have been received very well. The people support us against the hypocritical and provocative stance of the AKP regarding the process of resolution. As we explain our project, even sections of the people who voted for the AKP in the past have said they will vote for the HDP.

What do you think about the HDP’s Amed list?

The HDP’s list of candidates reflects the different beliefs, peoples and political views, from the environment to women and the freedom of worship. Our election campaigning is being carried on in Turkish, two dialects of Kurdish (Kurmanji and Zaza) and Arabic. Women, religious people and socialists are all supporting us. The HDP is not a movement that acts on behalf of the people, it is one that acts together with the people. Our work therefore does not solely consist of asking for votes. It carries the message: “Come and let’s run the project together”. The people have reacted positively to this. We are aiming to win all 11 seats in Amed.

You have an equal number of women and men on your list. How will this affect the women’s struggle?

The HDP has more women candidates than all the other main parties put together. The AKP, MHP and CHP have a total of 250 women candidates, whereas we have 260. With the Rojava revolution and the resistance in Kobanê the women’s struggle is on the rise worldwide. Our movement is a women’s liberation movement. This has been the case from the outset.

If you are elected it will be a first. You will be the first MP in the Republican era to represent the Yazidi faith in parliament. What do you think about this?

I thank our people and party for making this decision. The HDP project has proved it is a pluralist movement by representing the different beliefs and communities. Following the massacres in Sinjar by ISIS it will be significant for a Yazidi woman to be in the Turkish Parliament, as the Yazidi community has been ignored. I will wage a struggle for the identity of the Yazidi community to be recognised. I will also represent all other beliefs and cultures. I will also struggle for joint action by women.

How significant is it for Yazidi women for you to be elected?

I will endeavour to be the voice of the women slaughtered by ISIS in Sinjar and sold in slave markets. I will do whatever is necessary for the recognition of the identity of Yazidi women and for their democratic struggle. I believe that my being in parliament will give Yazidi women confidence and encourage them to get involved in struggle.