The family of imprisoned Burhan Çelik stated that his release has repeatedly been blocked on the grounds of “showing no remorse,” even once on the very day he was supposed to be freed. They voiced strong opposition to the imposition of forced repentance.
In an interview with ANF, Adile Cirik explained that in their village in the Ömerli district of Mardin (Mêrdîn), repression began when they rejected the state’s pressure to become village guards and chose to preserve their dignity instead. Cirik said: “Each time they tortured the men. They once took a man from the village away and made him disappear. His whereabouts remain unknown to this day. He had two children. The younger one, a boy, was only seven or eight months old. His daughter was about two years old. Afterwards, soldiers constantly raided the village. Finally, they said: ‘You have 25 hours. Either you agree to become guards or you evacuate the village.’ We left with only what we could carry in those 25 hours. After we left, they set the village on fire for an entire day, burning all the houses and gardens.”
They were not even given a home in Istanbul
Adile Cirik recalled that when they were forced to move to Istanbul, the repression continued. She explained that because they spoke Kurdish, they faced constant discrimination and, for a long time, could not even rent a home due to being Kurdish. As a result, they began living in basements while the men worked in construction. Cirik said: “The state did not leave us in peace here either. Our homes were raided again. Young people were taken, tortured, and then released. In response, we brought the Kurdish community here together. Especially as mothers, we stood shoulder to shoulder. We began to demand peace.”
We must stand tall like Öcalan
Adile Cirik condemned the state’s imposition of remorse and surrender, stressing that despite everything they have endured, they have stood tall and will continue to do so. Cirik said: “We are not regretful about how many of our children are with the guerrilla. We are with them. We will never regret it. Our leader Abdullah Öcalan was arrested and has been imprisoned for years. We are outside. He stands tall there, all alone. We mothers must also stand tall like him. Because of this state’s oppression, we have not lived a single beautiful day. Today our president has called for peace. Our people have burned their weapons with their own hands. For 35 years, our children have been imprisoned. Burhan Çelik has been imprisoned for 35 years. He has been transferred to prison after prison, and now he is in Adapazarı. Each time he is brought before the commission, they ask him: ‘Do you regret it?’ How can someone who has been imprisoned for 35 years express remorse? How can he say such words? Once again, they extended his sentence for another year. We mothers stand behind our children. We do not want our children to utter that word. Even if they tear our bodies to pieces, we will not feel remorse. We are not more valuable than our children who became martyrs.”
From now on, the Turkish state will be responsible
Adile Cirik emphasized that a new process has begun and that all mothers must rise up to ensure its continuation. She added: “We have been in this struggle for so many years. We are a people. Why is our language forbidden and why are we denied an identity? To which other people have such injustice been done? Our leader Abdullah Öcalan has struggled for us for all these years. Thanks to him, the Kurds have reached a certain place. Whatever happens, we must stand by our prisoners, our martyrs, and our children with the guerrilla. From this point on, if blood is shed, the Turkish state will be responsible. From now on, our children and grandchildren must be able to attend Kurdish schools. They must receive education in their own language. Our children must be released from prison, and those in the guerrilla must return and live freely.”