The Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) has initiated a groundbreaking grassroots campaign, “1 Million Voices for Peace” to address Turkey’s long-standing Kurdish question. This initiative comes at a critical moment, aiming to mobilize public support for a peaceful resolution to decades of conflict, economic hardship, and social division.
Grassroots campaign for peace gains momentum
The petition, hosted on Change.org and titled “Barış İçin 1 Milyon İmza” (1 Million Signatures for Peace), calls on the Turkish Parliament and society to take responsibility for fostering peace. It stresses the immense cost of security-focused policies, estimating over $3 trillion spent in the last 40 years, which has exacerbated social and economic inequality. “We must move beyond the darkness of war and embrace the light of peace,” the petition declares, urging all citizens to unite for a future based on justice and coexistence.
HDK: A platform for justice and equality
Founded in 2010, the HDK is a coalition of left-oriented political parties, ecologists, feminists, and civil society groups committed to advancing democracy, gender equality, and ecological sustainability in Turkey. The organisation has consistently championed peaceful solutions to pressing societal issues, with the Kurdish question at the forefront of its agenda.
This campaign reflects HDK’s core principles, emphasising the importance of dialogue and reconciliation. “The Kurdish question is not just a Kurdish issue; it’s a national issue requiring collective effort,” a representative from HDK stated. By engaging diverse voices across Turkey, the campaign aims to demonstrate the widespread desire for an end to hostilities and the beginning of a meaningful peace process.
Support from prominent figures
The campaign has received significant support from various political figures, including Tuncer Bakırhan, a prominent activist, who stated on social media, “I have added my voice to the call for peace with my signature. Join us in amplifying this campaign for ‘1 Million Voices for Peace.’”
Similarly, Tülay Hatimoğulları, co-chair of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, called for collective action, tweeting, “Those who yearn for peace, let us come together to grow HDK’s ‘1 Million Signatures for Peace’ campaign. With our signatures, let us add strength to the voice of peace.”
These endorsements highlight the campaign’s appeal across diverse political and social spheres, reflecting a shared commitment to resolving one of Turkey’s most pressing issues.
A call to action for millions
As the campaign gains traction, the HDK is reaching out to citizens, civil society organisations, and international communities to join the cause. The goal is to present the signatures to the Turkish Parliament as a testament to the public’s demand for peace. “This is more than a petition; it’s a movement for a better future,” the HDK’s co-chair Ali Kenanoğlu said.
Read a translation of the call below:
1 MILLION SIGNATURES FOR PEACE
To the Presidency of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM),
For many years, we have experienced, and continue to experience, the state of conflict created by the imposition of security-focused policies in the name of resolving the Kurdish question. This situation has resulted, and continues to result, in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, tears, and a societal landscape filled with profound suffering.
The insistence on excluding peaceful resolution inevitably brings with it significant economic costs. Due to the prioritisation of security-focused policies, AT LEAST 3 TRILLION DOLLARS have been spent in Turkey over the LAST 40 YEARS. This has been one of the fundamental reasons for the unbearable extent of social deprivation and poverty. The Kurdish question awaits a democratic, peaceful, and societal solution. We cannot give up on achieving peace and defending our shared future of coexistence.
The attacks in the Middle East and Syria, reaching the scale of massacres and genocide, have also shown that peace is vital for the peoples and beliefs living in the region.
For these reasons, we call upon all political and societal circles, primarily the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and citizens who long for a free and just life, to take responsibility for building peace.
TO EMERGE FROM THE DARKNESS OF WAR AND MEET IN THE LIGHT OF PEACE, I ADD MY SIGNATURE!
