Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party concluded its 8 March International Women’s Day celebrations with a final rally in Van (Wan), where thousands gathered in defiance of state repression. Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları and İmralı shuttle delegation member and MP for Van, Pervin Buldan, addressed the rally, denouncing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s appointment of a state trustee in Van as an authoritarian assault on democracy.
Buldan extended the greetings of imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan to all women, saying he acknowledged their central role in social and political struggles. “This 8 March is unlike any other. It carries the spirit of a new process, and the key message is Abdullah Öcalan’s call to women,” Buldan stated.
The rally in Van (Wan) held heightened significance due to Erdoğan’s latest move to depose the elected mayor Abdullah Zeydan and impose a government-appointed trustee. The decision, widely condemned by the opposition and civil society in general, sparked mass protests across the city, with demonstrators rejecting state intervention.
Hatimoğulları described the appointment as the final act of Erdoğan’s repressive trustee regime:
“Van made history with its 14-0 victory in the elections. Yet, the government could not tolerate the will of the Kurdish people and once again imposed a trustee. This is Erdoğan’s last attempt at crushing democracy in Kurdish cities. But let it be clear—Van is resisting, and Van will win.”
She demanded the immediate reinstatement of elected co-mayors in Van (Wan), Mardin (Mêrdîn), Hakkari (Colêmerg) and all municipalities where trustees have been imposed.
Buldan described Öcalan’s peace call of 27 February as a milestone for Kurdish women and for society.
“This is not just a call for peace and democracy, but also a direct message to women. Öcalan himself said, ‘This call is a renaissance for women.’ It is now up to us to carry it forward,” she said.
She stressed that no attempt should be made to sabotage the peace process, urging all parties to support democratic transition through political reforms.
Buldan and Hatimoğulları both outlined key demands to ensure democratic change, including:
”The repeal of all laws restricting political freedoms to safeguard democratic participation;
The abolition of government-appointed trustees and the immediate reinstatement of elected officials;
The release of political prisoners, including our colleagues [ie previous pro-Kurdish party leaders] such as Figen Yüksekdağ, Selahattin Demirtaş and Bekir Kaya.
The recognition of Kurdish language rights, including education in Kurdish.
Legal safeguards against gender-based violence and Turkey’s return to the Istanbul Convention.”
“We must transform this process into a lasting peace process. The demands of the Kurdish people and all oppressed communities must be met, and we will fight until we succeed,” Hatimoğulları declared.
Hatimoğulları also expressed solidarity with the Alawite community in Syria, condemning recent massacres targeting a civilians. “In the past three days, Alawites have faced one of the worst massacres in history. We stand with our Alawite brothers and sisters against these atrocities,” she stated.
She also criticised Turkey’s ongoing military operations in North and East Syria, particularly the bombing of villages near Kobani (Kobanê) and Tishreen (Tişrîn) Dam, which have resulted in civilian casualties.
“The self-administration model in Rojava [North and East Syria] is an example for the entire region, especially for women’s liberation. It must be protected, not destroyed,” she said.
Both Buldan and Hatimoğulları called on the government and opposition parties to support the peace process initiated by Öcalan’s call and pushed for a broad democratic alliance to uphold the rights of the people.
“This struggle will not be silenced. Women, Kurds and all democratic forces will stand together until freedom and justice prevail,” Hatimoğulları concluded.
