Kurdish leaders called for peace, freedom and justice in their Eid messages, while families visiting the graves of fallen Kurdish fighters in Çemê Elika and Sisê in Diyarbakır (Amed) faced obstruction from Turkish soldiers and discovered that the graves have been vandalised once again.
Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, Co-chairs of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), addressed the Turkish public, acknowledging the hardships faced during Eid al-Adha, the Islamic Feast of Sacrifice. “We are welcoming Eid in a difficult and challenging time,” they said. “We know that everyone is burdened by injustices and inequities. Despite these tough days, we continue our struggle for peace, democracy and equality without losing hope.”
They highlighted the perseverance of those fighting for social justice, women’s freedom and equality, workers’ rights and human rights. “The determined stance of those fighting for social justice, women’s freedom, equality, workers’ rights, human rights and nature protection allows us to face this Eid with hope,” they said. “Our reason for being is the struggle for a country and region without war and exploitation, where no one is forced to migrate and where racist and inhumane ideologies have no place.”
The message concluded with a wish for peace and justice for all. “We wish for Eid to bring peace, freedom and justice to the Islamic world and all peoples of the world. We wish everyone a peaceful and happy Eid in the belief that we will reach days where hostility is replaced by friendship and solidarity, and the pain of those who suffer is shared.”
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) has also extended warm greetings to the Islamic world, particularly to the Syrian people and those in their region. They honoured the families of martyrs and those who have made sacrifices for the current security and stability. The AANES expressed their hope that peace and security will prevail in Syria, urging all components of society to support the democratic self-administration against threats to their achievements. “We wish for a peaceful Eid and for the resolution of the Syrian crisis through democratic means,” they said, calling for solidarity and the strengthening of democratic governance as a model solution to regional crises.
In Diyarbakır, members of MEBYA-DER, a solidarity association for families of fallen Kurdish fighters, and leaders from DEM Party, the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and the Free Women’s Movement (TJA) gathered near Çeme Elika Cemetery. As they walked towards the graves, they were confronted by Turkish military forces. Mehmet Emin Kılıç, Co-chair of MEBYA-DER, attempted to make a statement but was prevented by the soldiers, raising tensions.
The families then moved to Sisê Cemetery, where they faced similar obstructions. Despite this, they began repairing graves they found damaged by vandalism. DBP Diyarbakır branch Co-chair Mehmet Şirin Gürbüz vowed to continue the fight for the freedom for which the martyrs had sacrificed themselves, stating, “We will pursue the aims of those who fell in the struggle for freedom.”
In another incident, a planned visit to Pirejman Cemetery in Diyarbakır was blocked by order of the governor. DEM Party MP Adalet Kaya condemned the decision, calling it “unacceptable” and announced plans to lodge a complaint against this obstruction.
