By Sirin Mohammed

Aleppo — After more than three decades behind bars in Turkey, the Turkish authorities have released Lamia Ossi, a veteran activist in the Freedom Movement, who says that “freedom is born from the patience of women.”

Lamia Ossi was arrested by Turkish authorities in 1994, at the age of 21. During her long imprisonment, she was transferred between several Turkish prisons, including Siirt, Amed (Diyarbakir), Sivas, and Şakran. Today, Lamia is 53 years old.

After 32 years in prison, Lamia was welcomed on October 24 in the neighborhoods of Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud with greetings of victory. She spoke to our agency about her experience in prison and the experiences of other female detainees.

Lamia explained that in 1994, Kurdish society was rapidly developing, and the philosophy of

women was emerging across Kurdistan. When she was arrested, ten of her comrades were detained alongside her—some were newly joined to the Freedom Movement, and others were arrested on their way to the mountains of Kurdistan. In total, between 67 and 100 people were detained in that period.

She was first held in Siirt Prison, then tried and transferred to Amed Prison along with 20 other women. She spent two years there. According to Lamia, “The number of women in prison was even greater than that of men. The Turkish state’s oppressive policy aimed to crush our will as revolutionary women, but it failed. Society did not view female prisoners negatively—instead, we were seen as symbols of freedom, resistance, and strength.”

Sivas Prison — “The Republic of Women”

After two years in Amed Prison, Lamia was transferred to Sivas Prison, known as the “Republic of Women” due to the large number of female inmates.

“During my time there, we women formed a group to continue our struggle and ideology. We used to read, discuss, and think about how to confront the Turkish occupation state through our activism. The Turkish authorities, in turn, used their repressive tactics to suppress our activities,” she said.

She added, “Despite all the oppression and injustice we faced in prison, we were determined to train and educate ourselves through the philosophy of leader Abdullah Öcalan, just as our comrades trained themselves in the mountains of Kurdistan.”

“Are you regretful?”

From time to time, prisoners were asked by the Turkish authorities whether they regretted joining the Freedom Movement. Their release depended on answering yes.

“But my comrades and I stood firm in our beliefs and struggle,” Lamia said.

“They used psychological warfare—showing us television programs that claimed the Kurdish Freedom Movement had ended, trying to break our morale and will. But their efforts failed.”

“Dividing the group weakens its strength”

After her time in Sivas, Lamia and her comrades were transferred to different prisons.

“In their view, when the number of comrades is small, it’s easier to control and break them. At first, we were around 100 people per ward, then reduced to 20. They tried to destroy our ideology, but our roots are too deep for the Turkish state to uproot,” she said.

Şakran Prison

After 2010, Lamia was transferred to Şakran Prison in İzmir, where the number of prisoners per ward was reduced to 12.

“From behind the bars, we focused especially on women’s struggle and empowerment—how to strengthen and advance women’s resistance. Even today, that struggle continues inside the prisons. Freedom is indeed born from the patience of women.”

“You are afraid of the Kurds”

Lamia recalls an 80-year-old woman who was arrested by Turkish authorities.

“They asked her, ‘At your age, why did you join the Freedom Movement?’ She replied, ‘Because I am Kurdish, and you are afraid of the Kurds. We women know very well how to plan and walk the path of freedom.’”

After 32 years in prison and now past the age of 50, Lamia Ossi and her comrades continue their struggle for the Kurdish cause and the liberation of women and their people.