The co-chairs of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, have issued a joint message marking Eid al-Fitr, highlighting the importance of solidarity, justice and peace amid deepening political and social polarisation in Turkey.
“Eid holidays are moments when we feel unity and fraternity most deeply, when shared sentiments come to the fore,” they stated. “We hope this Eid can be a moment to overcome shared pain through solidarity, grow hope, and make a new beginning.”
This year’s Eid carries heightened symbolic weight. Following the holy month of Ramadan, during which fasting, reflection and charity take centre stage, the spirit of Eid underscores reconciliation, community and peace – themes central to the DEM Party’s ongoing call for a democratic solution to the Kurdish question.
The message refers to the 27 February statement from imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, in which he called for a democratic society and a renewed peace process with the Turkish state. The DEM Party, building on this call, reiterated its full commitment to pursuing peaceful and political methods to address the century-old Kurdish issue.
“Today, it is a shared responsibility to overcome our country’s political and social tensions through dialogue, democratic consensus and negotiation,” the message continued. “We are going through a period where the unifying spirit of Eid must be felt and sustained at every moment.”
Party leaders stressed that all problems facing Turkey can be resolved with a principled approach that respects the will of the people, upholds democratic values, and avoids polarising rhetoric.
However, the Eid message comes at a time when the ruling government has intensified its crackdown on opposition voices, most recently detaining Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, widely seen as a leading presidential contender. The DEM Party condemned this latest move as another example of how the government continues to stifle dissent.
“We wish for the implementation of the Call for Peace and Democratic Society,” the party noted, adding that true national celebration will only be possible “on the day peace is secured in Turkey.”
The statement concluded with warm wishes: “With these thoughts and feelings, we wish that Eid al-Fitr brings peace and democracy to our 85 million citizens and freedom to all political prisoners. We extend our heartfelt Eid greetings to all.”
The statement was also published in Arabic, and two widely spoken Kurdish dialects Kurmanjî and Kirmanckî.
