Peace Mothers from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey gathered together for a workshop that was held at Ibrahim Ehmed Hall in Sulaimaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan to discuss the role that mothers can play in preventing attacks against Kurds and in ending the current war that is taking place in the Qandil Mountains between the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) and the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), Roj News reports.
The workshop was split into four sessions in which each panel focused on a specific topic. Presenting the opening speech, Fewziye Ebdulkerim, a Peace Mother, appealed to all mothers for unity: “We, mothers and sisters – I mean, all the women from the four parts of Kurdistan – must have a joint voice and stance. Thus, we can be a living example of national unity for all parties and organisations. We should not let any ideological differences divide us but should all gather together as mothers, sisters and as women, we can save our homeland: we can provide our country with freedom and peace.”
The second panel, entitled “The invading Turkish state beyond international law,” was presented by the woman’s rights activist Pakistan Mohammed. She mentioned the operations that had been launched by Turkey against the Medya Defence Zones: “At the moment, it is approximately five months on, that there has been a very huge offensive in Medya Defence Regions, such as Metina, Zap and Avaşin. The reasons for this war are quite clear with regard to our enemy’s stance. Therefore, they dont even hesitate to attack Sinjar (Şengal) and then Makhmour (Maxmur).”
Pakistan emphasized that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is a key target they wish to destroy. “It is clear because it stands as the biggest obstacle to it. But the main aim is to occupy and invade all of South Kurdistan by using the PKK’s presence there as an excuse to legitimise its acts: We all must see this game,” she said.
Bêrîvan Mihemed, a member of Kongreya Star, a confederation of women’s organisations in North and East Syria and the Women’s Council of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, organised the third panel, entitled ‘Occupation in Western Kurdistan.’
“We launched the defence struggle in Rojava – all people around the world know this truth as well – and this fight in Rojava was pioneered by women. Our fight was not only carried out against the Ba’athist regime but also against all forces who were aiming to commit genocide against the Kurds and invade their lands,” she stated.
The final panel of the workshop was entitled ‘Genocide of the Kurds by the Invaders.’ It was organised by Amina Anne from Rojhilatê Kurdistan (Iranian Kurdistan). Amina Anne appealed to the Government of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region to stand up to the attacks by Turkey and Iran. She said: “We need to ensure national unity so that we can prevent the bloodshed of our children.”
Anne continued: “I call for all Kurdistan region institutions, the parliament, the government and all civil and human rights organisations and the international community to rise up against this invasion, its attacks and offensives against the Kurds. We can no longer accept these attacks. And I call upon all Kurdish people, their organisations, to act in unity, as one voice and force as a national congress, to act to prevent the enemy from attacking us.”
After the panel sessions, the workshop concluded with discussions about the role of the Peace Mothers.