AGIRÎ - Hatice Şengül, whose husband İbrahim Şengül is a seriously ill prisoner, drew attention to the situation of all prisoners, saying: “We no longer want to wait outside prison gates. We want peace.”

 

The “Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration,” drafted as part of the Peace and Democratic Society Process launched by Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call on February 27, 2025, and regarded as a first step by the state, was adopted by Parliament by a majority vote on August 10. As debate over the law continues, relatives of prisoners say they are looking to the process to deliver peace, democracy and justice.

 

Severely ill prisoner Bayram Şengül, 75, was arrested in December 2020 and has remained in prison ever since. Held at a prison in Edirne, Şengül was transferred against his will to Beşikdüzü Type T Closed Prison in Trabzon. Hatice Şengül, a Peace Mother living in Agirî, said she has been unable to visit her husband for years due to the long distance. She also spoke about her advancing age and health problems, as well as the severe financial difficulties the family has been facing.

 

Pointing to the difficulties caused by her husband being held in a prison far from home, Hatice Şengül said: “Because of our financial difficulties, I can only travel to see my husband once a year.” She also said that they are subjected to further rights violations when visiting the prison, adding: “When we enter the prison, even my grandchild’s diaper, who was a baby at the time, is searched. We have to pass through 10 separate checkpoints. We no longer want to wait outside prison gates. We want peace. We are mothers for peace. We are all one.”

 

‘IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ENGAGE IN POLITICS, HOW CAN WE ACCEPT THIS LAW?’

 

Emphasizing that Kurds have long struggled against policies of assimilation, Hatice Şengül said: “We do not accept this oppression. My husband is 75 years old and suffers from high blood pressure and vision problems. He needs surgery. And it is not just my husband; there are many others like him in prison.”

 

Hatice Şengül, who said she remains hopeful about the framework law, said: “There are people in prison who are older than my husband. I want all prisoners to return home. My husband was involved in politics, and so was Abdullah Öcalan. I want his freedom too. Would it really be a bad thing if Abdullah Öcalan were released from prison? He speaks of peace and freedom. We do not want any more bloodshed. We have high hopes for the law passed by Parliament. We want those in the mountains, those in Europe and those in prison to return and be free. If Abdullah Öcalan is not going to engage in politics, if Selahattin Demirtaş is not going to be released and engage in politics, and if those in the mountains and in Europe cannot come and speak, how can this law be accepted? We no longer want mothers to cry or our young people to die.”

 

MA / Serkan Satılmış