The Kurdish women’s movement Tevgera Jinên Azad (TJA) has called for participation in the march to Gemlik on April 19. The port city has connections to the prison island of Imrali, where Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan has been imprisoned since 1999.
At a press conference held at the headquarters of the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) in Istanbul on Wednesday, TJA stated that the demonstration aims to send a strong message for peace and freedom. The statement was read by Ayşe Aksoy.
Aksoy highlighted the need for a fundamental transformation in light of war, crisis, and increasing pressure on society, especially on women.
“As the Middle East is plunged into chaos and women’s lives come under pressure, there is only one path for us: the construction of a democratic society,” she said.
Highlighting Öcalan’s role in the peace process, Aksoy said that “The road to peace leads through Imrali.” She stated that a solution to the Kurdish question and a democratic transformation are not possible without his freedom. “Öcalan’s physical freedom is not merely a political demand, but a fundamental prerequisite for a democratic, ecological, and women-liberated society,” the activist underlined.
Aksoy remarked that the women’s movement sees itself as a driving force for societal transformation. Referring to the slogan “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (Woman, Life, Freedom), she emphasized that women play a central role in the struggle for democracy and peace.
TJA called for broad participation in the march to Gemlik on April 19, inviting women’s organizations, youth movements, peace initiatives, and democratic forces. The aim of the demonstration is to “break the isolation together” and bring the demand for freedom and peace to the streets.
Leave a Reply