The Barış Anneleri (Peace Mothers) addressed a women’s group meeting of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party on Monday, urging renewed efforts for peace and justice in Turkey. Speaking in Parliament, Emine Eren, a member of the peace activist group, declared, “If you want peace, extend your hand to İmralı. The key to peace lies with Mr [Abdullah] Öcalan.”
The Peace Mothers, a collective of mothers advocating for the end of conflict and equal rights for all communities, have been a long-standing voice for peace, particularly during critical moments of the Kurdish peace process. Often stigmatised as “so-called” peace mothers, they have faced efforts to delegitimise their activism.
Eren, addressing the room, rejected this label. “We are not ‘so-called’ but true Mothers of Peace,” she stated, drawing applause from attendees. She denounced gender-based violence, ahead of the UN’s designated day to end violence against women, declaring, “We, as mothers, will stand against harassment, assault, and killings. We will be in the streets and squares fighting for justice.”
Her speech also addressed escalating violence and the unresolved Kurdish question. “We have always wanted peace, but promises are made only to be broken. Without peace, deaths and injustices will persist,” she said.
Eren emphasised Öcalan’s centrality to resolving Turkey’s long-standing conflicts. “Neither Kurds nor Turks will be free until Mr Öcalan is. Extend your hand to the Kurdish people; peace benefits all,” she concluded, calling for dialogue and unity.
The meeting highlighted the Peace Mothers’ enduring commitment to peace, calling on society and government to take decisive steps toward justice and equality.
