A mass march was held yesterday in Diyarbakır (Amed) under the slogan “Women march for social peace and a democratic solution,” organised by the Free Women’s Movement (TJA- Tevgera Jinên Azad). Thousands of women from various cities across Turkey and Kurdistan gathered in Diyarbakır and marched from Şemse Allak Life Park to the Great Mosque (Ulu Camii).

Women participating in the march shared their calls for peace with ANF.

We want nothing but peace

Beyca Abi said, “We are marching for peace. We are here because we want the people of Kurdistan to be free. We want Abdullah Öcalan to be free. This is a march for peace. There are mothers who came from far away, and their only demand is peace. Their outstretched hands for peace must not be left unanswered. We are calling on the state from here: take steps for peace. Our only goal is peace, and we will keep marching until we reach that goal.”

This war must end

Sadiye Tamur stated, “We are out in the streets for the war to end and for peace to be achieved. Our only wish is the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and the prisoners in jail. We want this war to end now. Women are claiming ownership of the peace process. We do not want to be deceived any longer.”

The state must embrace the process initiated by Mr. Öcalan

Fatma Balka stated, “We are here so the oppression on our people may come to an end. The Kurdish people must finally be free, and their rights must be recognised. We wanted peace forty years ago, and we still want peace today. We have never asked for anything but peace. As long as there is no peace, the deaths will not stop. We want an end to the loss of life.”

Gülçin Karbuk added, “We are struggling for peace and to stop the bloodshed. We do not want a single more mother’s heart to burn with grief. Mr. Öcalan took a noble and meaningful step, but the Turks have taken no steps in return. Every day, warplanes take off, and the massacres continue. The Turkish state must immediately embrace the process that Mr. Öcalan initiated. We want peace, but they do not.”

We do not want any more death

Sakine Altan said, “Our only demand is peace. We do not want anyone to die. It does not matter whether they are Turkish, Kurdish, Alawite, Arab, or Laz, no one should die, there must be peace. We want this war to stop now. The rights of the Kurdish people must finally be recognised. We want this peace process to reach a positive outcome as soon as possible.”