AKIN STERK

 Şırnak _ As the peace process and democratic society enter their second year, women from Şırnak  have expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of concrete legal steps taken thus far, calling upon parliament to expedite the enactment of the “Basic Law” that would grant the process a permanent legal framework.

Demands for Comprehensive Legal Reform

As the process enters its second year, criticisms in public circles are mounting due to the absence of tangible political and legislative steps. The "Basic Law" is among the most prominent demands put forward to ensure the resolution of the Kurdish question through democratic and legal means.

Democratic political circles view that this law should not be limited to technical amendments, but should rather constitute the beginning of a comprehensive democratic transformation that addresses the violations resulting from years of conflict, reinforces the principle of equal citizenship, opens the field for democratic political activity, and guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms.

While communications between political parties continue, debates over the content and scope of this law remain ongoing.

"No Tangible Steps Have Been Taken"

Feyliz Aco, co-chair of the Şırnak branch of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Parti), stated: "Two years have passed since the launch of the peace process and democratic society, yet we see no tangible steps—neither regarding the process itself nor the required legislation."

She added that the Kurdish people have demanded peace and democratic society since the beginning of the process, and their primary demand is the physical release of leader Öcalan, considering that its achievement would contribute to the success of the democratic process.

She also expressed her desire for the release of all prisoners and the return of those in the mountains to participate in political life, affirming that this requires the enactment of necessary laws as soon as possible.

 

"The Organized People Always Prevail"

She pointed out that the Kurds have fulfilled their responsibilities toward the process, but criticized the Turkish authorities for what she described as a failure to take practical steps and for prolonging the process, explaining that building trust requires tangible measures from the Turkish authorities. She called upon the Kurdish people to continue organizing and working collectively, stating that experiences in other countries demonstrate that organized peoples achieve their goals.

"Let Us Build Peace Together"

For her part, Aynur Elcioğlu, co-chair of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) branch in Cizre, stated that the Kurdish people have taken all the required steps since the beginning of the process, yet nothing concrete has been achieved to date.

She affirmed that Kurdish mothers have been demanding peace for years because they have lost their children and wish to stop the bloodshed, and that they have never abandoned the demand for peace. She also extended an invitation to mothers from the Turkish people to participate in supporting the peace process: "Let us build peace together."

 

Demand for the Release of Leader Öcalan

She added that leader Abdullah Öcalan remains detained on İmralı Island and subjected to isolation, and that despite two years having passed since the start of the process, he has not been released, nor have prisoners been freed, nor have the demands for education in the mother tongue and equal citizenship been implemented.

She stated that the popular demands raised in mass meetings focus on the physical release of leader Öcalan, considering that achieving this demand would open the door to the remaining demands.

 

"We Are Not Terrorists; We Are Kurds"

Aynur Elcioğlu also spoke about the "Basic Law," affirming the necessity of its enactment as soon as possible, stating that the Kurdish people await this law with great hope, yet it continues to be postponed.

She added: "We are being labeled as terrorists because we are Kurds, and we reject that. We do not want the term terrorism to be used against us in parliament or anywhere else, because we are not terrorists; we are Kurds."

 

"We Do Not Want Mothers' Hearts to Burn"

As for Saniye Danrı, mother of prisoner Lokman Danrı, who is sentenced to 40 years and has been detained for 16 years, she stated that the launch of the process brought hope back to their hearts, but clarified that this hope is not based on trust in the state, but rather in the Kurdish people: "We want to achieve peace and open prison doors, and we do not want mothers' suffering to continue. We believe in ourselves, but we do not trust the state."

She affirmed that mothers are still waiting for their sons outside prisons, calling upon parliament to enact the "Basic Law," and emphasizing that the peace process is not a demand exclusive to the Kurdish people, but to all peoples of the country, and that everyone must bear their responsibility to contribute to its success.