Within the framework of the Peace and Democratic Solution process initiated by Abdullah Öcalan, women have decided to march to Gemlik on 19 April.
With the march announced under the leadership of TJA, women aim to demonstrate that they are taking ownership of the process in line with Öcalan’s evaluations that women should lead it, to demand Öcalan’s physical freedom, and to respond to the government’s attempts to prolong the process.
Within this process, which continues with intensive work across Turkey and Kurdistan, TJA aims to march to Gemlik on 19 April together with Kurdish, Turkish, and women from all other peoples.
Women preparing for April 19 through home visits and meetings in Istanbul stated that they are aiming for mass participation from the city. DEM Party Şişli co-chair Zilan Öztürk spoke to ANF about the women’s march.
“We want to respond to Mr. Öcalan”
Öztürk said that the main goal of the 19 April march is to show that women are the pioneers of the peace process and continued: “The aim of the April 19 march is to respond to Mr. Abdullah Öcalan’s expectations of women regarding the peace process. These expectations are based on women’s leadership. Because we know that this process can be more successful through the efforts of youth and women. Therefore, by taking his women’s paradigm into account, we are launching the Gemlik march on April 19 as a response to him and in support of his physical freedom. For this reason, we are conducting home visits in Istanbul to explain the process and the purpose of our march to women.”
Öztürk added that democratization in Turkey will come through the struggle of women: “Democratization in Turkey will happen through the struggle of women and youth. Mr. Öcalan also says this. Within the women’s paradigm, we know that women are more successful in these areas. Therefore, these important steps in the peace process will move forward on a stronger and more solid basis through women’s efforts.”
“Women express their expectations and questions”
Öztürk said that during home visits women express their expectations, ask questions, and voice concerns about the slowdown of the process. She continued: “During these home visits, women tell us that the peace process is not progressing properly and that it has slowed down. They ask what both our party and the state are doing. They ask what kind of work our party is carrying out and what steps are being taken in this process. We explain to them both the current state of the process and the views of Mr. Abdullah Öcalan. We emphasize that women must be included in the process and that women are an important force for accelerating it.”
Öztürk also stated that they are not only reaching out to Kurdish women but also establishing communication with women from other communities. She said: “The Turkish women and women from other peoples we speak with say that they are tired of war. They say it is unclear what the government is doing, but at the same time they also ask what DEM Party is doing. They direct questions not only to the government but also to us and want the process to move forward in the right way. However, they are influenced by what they see in the media and on social media.”
“The Gemlik march will further expand the women’s paradigm”
Öztürk said they expect mass participation from Istanbul and concluded: “We call on women to support our Gemlik march. This is not just a march; it will also be an important step toward securing the physical freedom of Mr. Öcalan. This march will be a response both to those trying to sabotage the process and to those trying to slow it down, and it will further expand the paradigm of women’s freedom.”
Leave a Reply