The vigil of the Peace Mothers Assembly members who came together in Tilqebîn (Başverimli) town of Silopi district of Sirnex (Şırnak) with the demand “No to war, peace now” continues on its second day. Many Peace Mothers from Amed (Diyarbakır), Wan (Van), Êlîh (Batman), Mêrdîn (Mardin), Colemêrg (Hakkari), Riha (Urfa), Sêrt (Siirt), Izmir and Mersin came to Tilqebîn, 20 kilometers from the border of the Federated Kurdistan Region, to raise the voice of peace. The vigil continued with songs, applause and chants until the morning. 

 

On the first day of the vigil, 22 people, including journalists and politicians, were beaten and detained by soldiers and police officers. 

 

Mothers who continued the vigil despite the attacks emphasized that they would not give in to the pressure. 

 

'LET THERE BE NO MORE BLOOD'

 

Feyruze Kurt (50), who came from Izmir to participate in the protest, said that she had come to stop the blood and that the war was deepening day by day. Noting that they will fight for peace as long as they live, Kurt said: “We are peace mothers, not of war. That is why they are afraid of us. They came with soldiers, police, pepper gas and tanks. They tried to suffocate us with pepper gas. They are even afraid of peace. We want peace for them and for ourselves. We want neither our children's funerals nor their funerals to come. Peace will not come until peace comes to this country.” 

Reminding that they have come especially to the borders of the Federated Kurdistan Region, Kurt said, “We are calling out from this border; Barzani should give up his betrayal. Barzani should hear the voices of these mothers. He should stop shedding the blood of brothers. He should take their hand away from betrayal. Our enemy is one. Let there be no more blood.” 

 

Tenzile Agatay (53), who came from Mêrdîn's Qoser (Kızıltepe) district, “We came to say peace to stop the bloodshed and prevent massacres. We want our people to stop being arrested and our young people to stop losing their lives. Despite this, soldiers and police officers gassed our elderly mothers. But no matter what they do, we will not stop saying peace and we will not leave this place” she said.  

 

Fazilet Polat (55) from Gever (Yüksekova) district of Colemêrg said that they want to live in peace and tranquility and that they have suffered a lot. “We want equal rights like other peoples. The whole world recognized Kurds for their struggle. Despite all our sufferings, our heads are high. But we say enough is enough. Let peace come to this land. May our prisoners in the dungeons and Mr. Öcalan be freed” she said and stated to the ongoing wars in the Federated Kurdistan Region, Polat said: “For this war to end, the betrayal must stop. We don't even want to hear Barzani's name. His dictatorship and betrayal must end. The people of Bashûr must put an end to this regime. Let all mothers join hands and end this evil. Let's build our alliance and unity” said Polat.  

 

'THEY ARE AFRAID OF PEACE'

 

Maşallah Işıkaslan (68), who came from Sêrt, drew attention to the Barzani-Turkey cooperation by saying “What you sow is what you reap at the end of the day”. Explaining the difficulties of shouting for peace, Işıkaslan said: “When we tried to come here to shout for peace, they stopped and searched us every 50 meters. We came here to shout for peace and they attacked us with hostility. Let there be equality and freedom. We don't want hostility. They are afraid of the mothers' demand for peace. No matter what they do, we will shout for peace again. Let there be no more bloodshed.” 

 

Kamile Şimşek (60), who came from Êlih, stated that this was a great oppression, “Isn't Barzani Kurdish? It is a shame, a sin. He is carrying Turkey's soldiers and tanks to his land. We came here to stop the war. We will not back down no matter how much they attack us. We will fight until peace comes” she said. 

 

'WE WILL CONTINUE OUR STRUGGLE'

 

Nafiye Yiğit (60), who came from Amed and said: “We don't want to hug coffins anymore. There has been a big war in 4 parts of Kurdistan for years. We as mothers do not want this war. We want peace. We come here and extend our hand of peace once again. But those in front of us only want war. Airplanes fly over our children every day. They slaughter our children with their tanks and artillery. Every day we pick up the bodies of our children. We can no longer tolerate this. We do not want this dirty war. Barzani, who allowed this dirty war, opened his lands to Turkey and caused the death of our children, should turn back from his betrayal. Barzani is doing this for his own interests and seat. Are you not saturated with blood?” 

Saying that the AKP government is afraid of the white veils of the Peace Mothers, Yiğit continued her words as follows: “The AKP government is afraid of our white scarves. Their attack on us shows their fear. No matter what they do, mothers are not afraid of their tanks or cannons. Mothers will extend their hands for peace. We will continue our struggle until peace and tranquility come to this land.” 

 

MA / Ömer Akın