The Kurdish National Congress (KNK) Women’s Commission issued a written statement regarding the racist and sexist attack targeting politician Leyla Zana.
In its statement, the KNK Women’s Commission described the incident as a “vile attack on the will of Kurdish women in the person of Leyla Zana” and said:
“A profound process of change has begun in the Middle East and Kurdistan. This process can be assessed in line with the shared interests of the people and women; however, this requires an active, determined, and constructive will. Otherwise, opposing policies and sabotaging attitudes will lead to harmful consequences for peoples and women.
Today, at this sensitive and important stage, we see that dark forces want to oppose this process, which was initiated by Abdullah Öcalan on 27 February 2025 with the Call for Peace and a Democratic Society and has been continued, albeit incompletely, by the relevant parties. These forces have always been active in all four parts of Kurdistan, and the gains of the Kurdish people have been their target. Today, their aim is once again to darken the future of the peoples by sabotaging this process.
As the KNK Women’s Commission, we strongly condemn and reject the vile attack carried out against the will of Kurdish women, embodied in Leyla Zana, during the Bursaspor–Somaspor match in Bursa. Bursaspor Stadium is a space belonging to the peoples and a place of gathering; it is not a venue for racism or despicable attacks. For this reason, the Minister of Sports must fulfill their responsibility, and the individuals who carried out this attack must be punished.
Leyla Zana is the honor of the Kurdish people; Leyla Zana is not alone!”