Dicle Anter
‘“As a journalist, writer, intellectual, and scholar who spent almost 12 years of his life in prisons and exile, he was the ‘guerrilla of the intellectuals.’ I have written about Musa Anter. Now let me write about my father,” writes Dicle Anter, son of Musa Anter, for the daily Yeni Yaşam, on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of Musa Anter’s assassination.
As I remember the day of 20 September 1992, I see the most historic murder committed by the state against the intellectuals. This article will be full of my feelings, but I think I have the right to be emotional. As you know, I am the victim of the most terrible and cruel incident that has ever happened in our country.
The killing of the people,who have seen the truth of the country, by those who have hidden the truth has deepened the problems. It is necessary to expresss different views. The views that open up new discussions will improve society. No one has a right to murder others because of their thoughts.
Our duty is to sincerely and realistically embrace the views of our intellectuals who have enlightened our paths. Such an embrace could only be a product of the collective spirit, which will be the fear of dark forces.
Kurdish writer Musa Anter was one of the biggest fears of these dark forces. They were afraid of him and, of course, they still are. You can ask: ‘Why?’ Look at the journalists in prison and the journalists who flew abroad. When people said “his pen will not be left on the ground,” nobody believed them, but the truth surprised them all.
Journalism is a difficult profession in this country, but being a Kurdish journalist is even harder. It was difficult in all aspects for an intellectual, for a man and woman of wisdom, who has been on the side of what is rightful and just.
Musa Anter was one of the most important witnesses of these difficult times and he was an intellectual who experienced all difficulties. He was a writer who fought for the existence of an oppressed nation. We can summarise the philosophy of his life as follows: Explaining the existence of a language and a society, which were denied, while taking a stance against all kinds of oppression and violence against the sovereigns.
An intellectual and an individual who always felt the cold breath of death on his back all the time, not an easy task!
‘As a journalist, writer, intellectual, and scholar who spent almost 12 years of his life in prisons and exile, he was the ‘guerrilla of the intellectuals.’
I have written about Musa Anter. Now let me write about my father. First of all, it is very difficult to be the son of a person like him. I faced this challenge easier than I thought, because I have had to face many difficulties in my life. He spent his childhood in Kurdistan. Even though he treated us as a ‘second child’ when young students visited our home, I could understand him. And over time, I have understood him better. After all, those who came to our home were displaced students.
I was a football player in Mardinspor when I was in Mardin [Mêrdîn]. Although I was a good player, I couldn’t get anywhere (because we did not have an ‘uncle’ in some institutions).
After all, I was displaced as well. Spending 25 years living in Sweden, I have learned what migration means. We got along very well with my mother and loved each other very much. She came to Sweden after some time. However, all I had in life was left incomplete due to migration. Football, education, family love, most importantly, being away from my father …
There are many ”I wish’s” in my life. Every time I say the word “I wish,” something gets stuck in my throat and takes me somewhere else. No matter how many regrets, pains and sorrows, no matter how painful it is to lose a loved one, this sorrow is an honourable cost to pay, especially for my father. You are in my life, you are in my heart …
