A delegation of Peace Mothers met in Ankara with representatives of the CHP, DEVA Party, Future Party (Gelecek Partisi), MHP, AKP and Felicity Party (Refah Partisi). The meetings were described as “important and hopeful in terms of the Peace and Democratic Society Process.”

 

The statement said that the implementation of the “right to hope” for Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan was considered both a legal necessity and part of the peace process.

 

The statement included the following remarks: “Throughout the meetings, the main demands we expressed were the taking of political and legal steps, and the implementation of the ‘right to hope’ (possibility of conditional release) for Abdullah Öcalan, who is imprisoned, as both a legal obligation and a part of the peace process. Our wish is the establishment of a democratic future where no mother cries anymore, no young person falls to the ground, and peoples come together in an equal, free and dignified life. As mothers, we believe that an honorable and lasting peace is vital not only for one segment, but for all 86 million people living in Turkey.

 

As mothers who have lived through the pain created by years of war policies, who have been tested by the pain of losing children but who have never given up on life and peace, we want dialogue channels to be opened, the ground for a democratic solution to be strengthened, and the obstacles in front of negotiation channels to be removed. The sensitivity and will for a solution we have seen from different segments of society as Mother’s Day approaches has become a source of hope in the hearts of us mothers. We women and mothers know that war wounds women’s lives the most. Therefore, defending peace also means defending life, equality and a free future. We believe that the struggle growing through women’s labor and mothers’ insistence on peace will create a strong basis for the common life of peoples.

 

During the meetings we held in this context, we also stated that our requests to meet with the President, Mr. Devlet Bahçeli and Mr. Abdullah Öcalan are still valid. As mothers, we demand that channels for meetings be opened and dialogue grounds be strengthened so that peace and a solution can develop. Throughout this process, we also thank the DEM Party and everyone involved who did not leave us alone, expanded solidarity and played a facilitating role in making these meetings possible. As Peace Mothers, we will continue to defend life against war, truth against denial, and the brotherhood of peoples against polarization. We maintain our belief that a democratic society and honorable peace will grow under the leadership of women.”