Martyr’s mother, Halide Kartal, said that none of her children have escaped prison or torture, and added that she holds her head high because of her martyred son. She said: “He never bowed his head. Sometimes, at protests or prison visits, I also say, ‘I am Kemal’s mother; I bow to no one.’”
Halide Kartal is one of those who witnessed the state’s violence in the 1990s, met the guerrillas, and learned the importance of struggle. Believing in peace and fighting for it, she is the mother of Kemal Pir (Kayhan Kartal), who fell as a martyr on 21 June 2022, during an attack on the Medya Defense Zones after 11 years in the guerrilla struggle. Halide Kartal spoke to ANF and shared her story of resistance.
Forced migration from Karayazı to Istanbul
Kartal said: “We are from Karayazı, Erzurum. In 1991, my brother-in-law’s son joined the guerrilla. The Turkish soldiers came looking for him. Every time they came, they tortured my husband and brother-in-law. They threw our food on the floor. They tortured so much that when they left, my husband and brother-in-law could hardly stand. We resisted this torture for years. Then my eldest son was arrested and held for 11 months. So I decided to leave the village for the sake of my children and moved to Istanbul. My son was in middle school at the time; after finishing, he came too and started high school. He was 13 years old then. He was involved in organizing activities during high school. After graduation, he was preparing for university but was detained. He spent 11 months in prison, where he was tortured severely. When released, he said the police were following him constantly and sometimes beating him. He said, ‘I can’t stay here anymore,’ and left to study in Amed.”
After prison, he said he couldn’t stay
Kartal continued: “We heard he was detained again. My eldest son went to Diyarbakır. He was tried and spent almost three years in prison. His lawyers called and said he was released. He shared a cell with MP Faysal Sarıyıldız; we spoke with him a few times during visits. He stayed three days there, then called saying he would come visit us. We bought his plane ticket; he stayed home five days. Then he said, ‘I’ve made my decision; I can’t just sit here.’ His father asked him to wait a little longer, but he said, ‘My friends are waiting for me; I must go.’ We respected his decision. We bought his ticket and took him to the airport. Later he called from Amed and said, ‘Mother, give me your blessing.’ I said, ‘You have it.’ After that, he didn’t call again — until we received news of his martyrdom. We held his funeral with our heads held high. Those who fought and fell with him are our children too. Those who were tortured for this cause are also our children.”
He never bowed his head
Kartal said that her son, Kemal “was a very good person, loyal to his friends, neighbors, and family since childhood. I have four sons, two older than him, but he was the brightest. His voice, his smile, his actions. He was special. He was generous, and his friends loved him deeply. Even now, some of his childhood friends come to me and say, ‘We were Kemal’s friends.’ They speak of him with pride. He was brave, often went out alone. His father didn’t know, but I followed him. He led the struggle in the streets. He was detained and tortured for 11 days but never bowed his head. He kept our heads high, and still does.”
I say, ‘I am Kemal’s mother’
Kartal continued: “Sometimes at protests or prison visits, I say, ‘I am Kemal’s mother; I bow to no one.’ They attack me all the time; recently they detained me again. We were protesting against the International Conspiracy. Nine women were detained. They kept us until morning. They brought food; we refused. They brought water; we refused. When they handcuffed my hands behind my back, I shouted, ‘Is this justice? Is this the state? You’re handcuffing a 70-year-old woman!’ I told their superiors the same.”
None of my children escaped prison or torture
Kartal said that none of her children have escaped prison or torture, and added: “My eldest son was imprisoned, released, then sentenced again and served five and a half years. Another son was detained for seven months, released, then sentenced to two years and had to sign in for three. Another was imprisoned for two and a half years and released under supervision. When Selahattin Demirtaş was arrested, my son was detained with torture, he stayed in the station for 11 days. When we saw him, his shoes were gone, and his face was swollen from beatings. Later he was imprisoned again for 11 months. My youngest son was detained while still a student; held in the station for days. The court gave him five years, but he was released under probation and managed to finish school. Our house was raided constantly. Even the little children were mistreated. My children and I were detained many times, but we never stepped back.”
Without Leader Öcalan’s freedom, we cannot be free
Kartal said: “We want peace. Every people has a state, but we don’t. Our children and elderly are all in prison. Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] has been imprisoned for 27 years. He is our leader. We must all say it together, loudly: without the freedom of Leader Apo, we cannot be free. Without his freedom, we cannot be free. Many mothers have suffered, waiting for years, their hearts broken. Despite all the pain, we still want peace. First, let Leader Apo be free, then let the prisoners be free. They are old and ill now. They should be released and reunited with their families. We don’t ask for much — we just want peace. Our leader has been in prison for 27 years; we want him to be free.”