GULISTAN AZIZ

Shingal_The wave of protests rejecting the denial of leader Abdullah Öcalan’s right to hope is escalating,and with it, the call demanding his physical freedom rises day by day. In shingal, Yazidi mothers continue their activities in various fields of work and society, carrying a clear vision and deep feelings regarding the issue of their leader’s freedom, affirming that his voice and thought still pulse in their daily lives.

Khin Khidr, spokesperson for the Sardacht Commune, affirmed the importance of the demand for recognition of leader Abdullah Öcalan’s right to hope. Recalling what they experienced, she said:

"On August 3, 2014, when the massacre occurred, the forces present in the region abandoned us and left us to our fate. At that moment, the leader's call came to us. From that day until now, his thought remains present among the Yazidis in the Shingal mountains. Thanks to this thought, we have become more aware, organised our ranks, formed our defensive forces, and established our councils and various institutions."

She emphasised that leader Abdullah Öcalan does not call for war, affirming his rejection of violence: "The leader affirms that no problem can be solved through war and killing. According to his vision, human beings must address their issues through thought, awareness, and politics. If tribes continue to kill each other, peace will never be achieved as long as the world exists. When people come together and unite, only then will massacres stop."

She added: "The Yazidis must also know themselves, enhance their awareness, and organise their ranks. They must be able to cooperate with all peoples and religions, and protect themselves from massacres. This is what we have derived from the leader's thought."

"The Leader Is Imprisoned Because of His Ideas"

She explained that the freedom of leader Abdullah Öcalan, in the eyes of Yazidi women, represents freedom for society as a whole and for Yazidi women in particular. She highlighted his role in establishing the values of human peace, saying that the issue is no longer confined to Kurds or Yazidis, but has come to concern all humanity. Leader Öcalan's thought is based on peace and coexistence, and his vision carries a broad human dimension.

She added that his remaining in prison for 27 years has been without justice, and that they appeal to states, international institutions, and all those yearning for freedom to stand by him and protect him. "They keep him in prison because he holds a different thought, and because they fear the impact of his ideas. If he were not a philosopher and a visionary, this large number of people would not follow him. Yazidis, Alawites, Kurds, Arabs, and others have been influenced by his thought and learn from his vision."

"We Rose Thanks to the Leader's Thought"

For her part, Nasreen Zoravai, coordinator of the Zorava Commune, said that they became acquainted with the ideas of leader Abdullah Öcalan in 2014 and relied on them in building their organisation and institutions, affirming that leader Öcalan gave much to women, citing his saying that "a free woman means a free homeland, and the freedom of society cannot be achieved unless women are free."

She added that Yazidi women demand his physical freedom because his thought was a support for them after the genocide that caused great losses. Thanks to his vision, she says, they were able to stand again, defend themselves, and fight battles in various places. "If the world adopted the leader's thought, all these wars would not have broken out, and we would not have witnessed all these massacres. The leader always affirms that we want the freedom of peoples and their coexistence. Today, despite wars raging in many parts of the world, Shingal remains peaceful, beautiful, and free of conflict. This has been achieved thanks to the leader's thought."

"We Will Not Forget the Leader's Favour, and We Will Do Everything in Our Power for His Freedom"

Tura Khalaf, coordinator of the Borik Commune, expressed her feelings regarding the freedom of leader Abdullah Öcalan, saying that August 3, 2014, was a decisive moment, affirming that "had it not been for the presence of leader Apo with us that day, none of us would have remained alive." She indicated that they do not forget his favour, and that they will do everything in their power for his physical freedom.

She added that leader Öcalan's thought gave them the ability to face massacres and stand firm, and that they do not want war but rather seek to solve their problems through politics and dialogue. "The leader wants us to rely on ourselves, to lead our own lives, and to protect ourselves. Today, the leader is in prison without guilt. We hope that the day will come when we see him atop the Shingal mountains, working together and walking the same path."