MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

 Amed (Diyarbakır)- On February 27, 2025, the members of the Imrali delegation from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) held a press conference in Istanbul, reading the historic “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan following their third meeting with him in the prison island of Imrali.

On International Women’s Day, March 8, the DEM Party announced that it would organize closed-door public meetings called, “Public Meetings for Peace and Democratic Society” in at least 100 districts and cities of Kurdistan and Türkiye from March 9 to March 15 to popularize the call. Since March 8, the party has held public meetings.

“2025 will be the year of peace and freedom,” said Berivan Bahçeci, Spokesperson of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Women’s Council, while speaking about the efforts for building peace.

‘The call is a continuation of the struggle’

Women will take to the streets to celebrate Newroz with the enthusiasm of the call as they did on March 8, Berivan Bahçeci indicated. “Both the Kurdish people and those who demand democracy have waged a great struggle for the call. The call is a continuation of the struggle for peace. It’s not the end but the beginning. We have been going through a historic process for the socialization of peace. We have already determined a road map to both popularize this call and start our efforts for social peace. All segments in society have welcomed the call.”

‘We organize public meetings for the socialization of the call’

Berivan Bahçeci mentioned the efforts, campaigns and protests demanding the end to the isolation imposed on Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and his physical freedom, recalling the “March for Freedom” that lasted 15 days in 2024.

“All people demanding democracy and the end of the war in this country have a very critical responsibility in this process. We have already started organizing public meetings in about 90 centers for the socialization of the call. Those who want to learn more about this process, to have questions about this process can attend these meetings. At these meetings, we will discuss the curiosities and the demands of the people about the process.”

‘The state should take positive steps for peace’

Berivan Bahçeci called on the Turkish state to take positive steps for peace. “The state should not miss this historic opportunity for peace. The first step to be taken by the state is to immediately ensure the physical freedom of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan. The second step is to release all political and sick prisoners.

‘Women expressed their support to the call’

Berivan Bahçeci also talked about International Women’s Day. “On March 8, women took to the streets, voicing their demand for peace. Women from all ages demanded the end of ‘bloodshed’. On March 8, women expressed their support for the call for peace. As women, we have a great responsibility to build peace. Now, mothers want the peace they have been waiting for for years to be built. Women will take to the streets to celebrate Newroz with the enthusiasm of the call as they did on March 8. On March 21, the fire of peace and freedom will be lit for us.”

‘2025 will be the year of peace and freedom’

Women will build peace and 2025 will be the year of peace and freedom, Berivan Bahçeci emphasized. “We must struggle for peace more than ever. The struggle waged by women in Kurdistan will result in peace. We will keep struggling for peace.”