The Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) is preparing for a large-scale rally on World Peace Day on September 1 in Istanbul. The focus is not only on mobilizing for the demonstration itself, but also on a broad accompanying program with art events, mobile loudspeaker vehicles, street forums, and decentralized meetings.
The co-chair of the DEM Party Istanbul organization, Çınar Altan, told ANF that the rally marks the beginning of a new phase in the party’s political engagement. Previously, the party had held over 2,000 local meetings across the country to present its perspective on the new dialogue process with the government in light of Abdullah Öcalan’s February 27 “Call for Peace and Democratic Society.”
Wait-and-see attitude among the Kurdish population
Altan emphasized that the party’s low public profile in recent months was not a strategic move, but rather a reflection of the wait-and-see attitude among the Kurdish population. “Our grassroots supporters have paid a high price in the past, and that continues to have an impact today. So, it’s totally understandable that they want to take a step back and observe the situation first,” Altan said.
However, the goal is not only visibility, but political effectiveness, said Altan, adding: “It’s not about producing an impressive mass image. We are concerned with conscious participation and the expression of clearly formulated demands.”
From the neighborhood to the central square
Preparations for the rally are in full swing. So-called “peace mobiles” are to be on the move in all districts of Istanbul—speaker trucks that will stop at parks, neighborhoods, and public places. Smaller discussion groups, street forums, and cultural events are planned to discuss and communicate the contents of the peace process.
“This time, we are going to the people, not the other way around,” said Altan. “We want to reach people outside our immediate circle of supporters—such as Turkish workers and members of the Alevi community.”
Larger cultural events are also planned in at least six locations throughout the city. “All these activities are geared toward September 1, but they are also independent venues for political expression,” said Altan.
Peace as a concern for society as a whole
Altan emphasized that it is not enough to mobilize only one’s own base: “If a Turkish worker comes to our rally on September 1 and can articulate what peace means to him or her, that is real progress. When an Alevi publicly stands up for equality and freedom of belief, that broadens the social significance of peace.”
Anchoring peace as a social project
The rally is also relevant in light of current political developments, particularly the commission established by parliament to resolve the Kurdish question. “This commission can only work credibly if the demand for peace comes from society—broad, loud, and organized. The rally should therefore also be understood as a political message to the state and its institutions,” Altan stated.
At the same time, Altan announced that September 1 was only the beginning: “What becomes visible there must be carried forward—to other cities, other milieus, other struggles. It’s about anchoring peace as a social project.”