Speaking to ANF, Hasan Basri Fırat, former mayor of Hınıs district of Erzurum and grandson of Sheikh Said, emphasized the Kurdish people’s loyalty to Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.
“The Kurdish people have designated Abdullah Öcalan as their arbiter and accepted him as their leader. They are committed to his word. Without him, this process cannot proceed healthily,” said Fırat and stressed that Öcalan’s physical freedom is one of the most fundamental conditions for this process to become permanent.
Fırat said that tens of thousands of people have been victims of this war in exile and prisons, and called for legal reforms to resolve the Kurdish question. He stated, “For nine years, I have been in exile, like tens of thousands of others. Ending these injustices is important, but the core of the issue is resolving the Kurdish question. The solution lies in securing the Kurdish people’s language, culture, and other fundamental rights. A healthy solution is only possible through the restoration of the Kurdish people’s rights.”
Fırat stated that the destruction and suffering caused by the war have continued for 100 years, emphasizing that peace is essential for both Kurds and Turks. He added: “No one wants war. War is destruction. The Turkish state must also understand that there is no military solution to this problem. The Kurds will not give up their rights. Therefore, this issue must be resolved through peace. We will always stand on the side of peace and justice.”