Peace Mother Kumri Öner (64) died on October 25 in Hezex (Idil) district of Şirnex (Şırnak). Öner lost her daughter Nergiz Öner (Zerrin Beritan) in the fight against ISIS in Kobanê in 2015. The loss of her daughter's life was a turning point for Öner. Öner then joined the Cultural Association for Solidarity and Assistance with Those Who Lost Relatives in the Cradle of Civilizations (MEBYA-DER) and the Peace Mothers' Assembly. Öner was at the forefront of all actions and events organized in the city to demand a lasting peace. She shouted for peace at every demonstration with her white cheesecloth and traditional Kurdish cloth. 

 

'SHE DID NOT BACK DOWN'

 

Mehmet Öner said that his wife's life was full of pain and struggle. Saying that his wife fought hard to end the suffering. Mehmet Öner said they suffered a lot in their whole life.  

Öner pointed out that he would continue the struggle that his wife left behind, “She was always in protests and statements. She was doing whatever she had to do. She never back down. Her only wish was peace. She was struggling for that too. After losing our daughter, she actively took part in the struggle for peace. She wanted mothers to shed no more tears. Her dream was to achieve peace one day” he said.  

 

SHE WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF EVERY DEMONSTRATION 

 

Peace Mother Ayşe Hezer, who was Öner's friend in the struggle, said that Öner was at the forefront of all protests and events. “We went to the border together during the Kobanê resistance. Her daughter lost her life against ISIS. First she was buried there. However, upon the family's request, we took the body from the border and brought it to Hezex. After losing her daughter, she was always in the struggle for peace” Hezer said. 

 

Emphasizing that the freedom of Kurdistan was Öner's dream, Hezer continued: “She always said ‘Let Kurdistan be free, let our children live freely in their own country with their own identity and language’. This was her dream. She was a party worker. She dedicated her life to the struggle for peace. She fought for it until the end of her life. Losing her is a great pain for all of us. We will also protect he legacy of struggle. We want to live in a country where political prisoners are released, where there are no more deaths and wars end. We will continue our struggle for this until the end.”  

 

MA / Mahmut Altıntaş