The Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad - TJA) will hold a march to Gemlik to shout for the freedom of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Women, who will gather in Gemlik on April 19, will voice their demand for freedom and peace.

 

Felek Erdem from Amed (Diyarbakır), a member of TJA, stated that a year after the Call for Peace and Democratic Society, the government’s perspective is still the same as on the first day.

 

She noted that despite the Kurdish Movement taking many concrete steps such as dissolving the PKK and withdrawing, the state has not taken these steps. Felek Erdem criticized the lack of any change in language or policies and stated that there is an attitude against the process.

 

Commenting on the significance and importance of the upcoming march, Felek Erdem stated that recognizing Abdullah Öcalan’s status is essential for women, and said, “There is no concrete step regarding the 'right to hope.' Our march is related to the recognition of the 'right to hope' by the Leader.”

 

Felek Erdem emphasized that not only Abdullah Öcalan's freedom but also the freedom of all political prisoners is necessary to create a democratic environment, and he said Abdullah Öcalan should come and speak in the Parliament.

 

She stated that the people of Turkey and Kurdistan should come together for the “right to hope” and that they will do their best for the process to evolve into peace. “Our responsibility is to raise the demand voiced in Gemlik in all cities, in all streets. We also call on all segments, academics, and artists to unite around the principle of the 'right to hope,'” she said. 

 

ISTANBUL

 

Hatice Başkale from TJA, in Istanbul, stated that the main purpose of the march is to demand the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan. Remembering that they meet with people during the march, Hatice Başkale said that on the morning of April 19, they will set out from Istanbul to Gemlik with 6 vehicles.

 

Calling on all people and communities, Hatice Başkale said, “In Gemlik, we will loudly shout out the physical freedom of Leader Apo, our demand, our voice, and our stance. If the leader of the Kurdish people is not free, neither women, nor society, nor the people can be free.”

 

EMPHASIS ON DEMOCRATIC POLITICS

 

Kamile Kandal, Spokesperson for the Istanbul Women's Assembly of the DEM Party, stated that Abdullah Öcalan's status should be recognized and his physical freedom ensured within the scope of the Peace and Democratic Society Process, and that their march is also within this framework. Kamile Kandal said: "The legal recognition of Mr. Öcalan as an actor and a party will contribute to the process. Mr. Öcalan needs to participate as a political actor in democratic politics."

 

Kamile Kandal said that Abdullah Öcalan’s perspective on women makes great contributions to the women’s freedom struggle. She said that opening the way for Abdullah Öcalan to communicate with people from all segments will greatly contribute to the process. “It will be a turning point for the progress of the process if the state also takes legal steps,” she said and invited women from all segments to the march they organized for the process.

 

Dicle Aşı from TJA, expressing that the march was meaningful for them and was carried out due to the demand for Abdullah Öcalan’s freedom, also called on all women to join the Gemlik March.