Two members of the Kurdish female activist group Peace Mothers who lost their lives in a traffic accident in Hakkari (Colemêrg) on Tuesday had been facing charges for financing terrorism over the money they sent to their imprisoned children, according to Green Left Party (YSP) Spokeswoman Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar.
“In Kurdistan, almost all families have a child or other relative in prison. What the peace mothers were charged with was depositing money at a prison, so sending money to their own children,” Uçar said at the wake held for Peace Mothers Adalet Safalı and Perişan Akçelik.
“Our mothers, and everybody who believes in the Kurdish struggle and insists on this fight have seen many prosecutors grow old over the decades, while the state sought to use salaried public servants to wage their hostility against Kurds,” the spokeswoman continued. “Many public servants have positioned themselves to spread the policies of the state regarding the Kurdish issue.”
“If you called our mothers in for questioning, you will be called to answer for it. You will be held accountable to the Kurdish people, to Peace Mothers, to those who insist on this struggle,” she added.
“The fight will continue until a dignified peace is achieved,” Uçar concluded.
“The Kurdish people and Kurdish mothers have ought for decades for the future of Kurdistan and a dignified peace and unity,” YSP’s sister party Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-chair Saliha Akdeniz said at the same visit. “The Peace Mothers have defended peace and continued their fight for years on the street, in neighbourhoods.”
“These mothers worked for years to establish peace and justice. They are martyrs for Kurdistan,” Peace Mothers assembly member in the eastern Van (Wan) province Zekiye Kaya said. “We will continue the defence until the end. I hope soon this country achieves peace, and we will come to these graves and tell them we built up peace step by step.”