The Kurdish people have steadfastly maintained their commitment to the pursuit of peace over the years despite enduring significant adversity, one of Turkey’s most prominent human rights activists Prof Şebnem Korur Fincancı said in an interview on Friday.
Speaking on 1 September International Peace Day, Fincancı, president of the Turkish Medical Association, expressed her deep frustration with the prevalent societal silence surrounding peace and said: “It is not possible to establish lasting peace when society approves of drones and applauds armoured vehicles, and remains undisturbed by them.”
She emphasised that the attainment of lasting peace cannot be realised in isolation but necessitates active engagement from society as a whole. She called for a collective struggle, highlighting the indispensable role that society plays in forging a path towards a more peaceful future.
She stated that the achievement of genuine peace requires reconciliation with people’s the core values, recognition of the intrinsic worth of those values and allowing people to live in alignment with them.
Fincancı has previously advocated for independent committees to investigate allegations of chemical weapons use by the Turkish Armed Forces within the borders of Iraqi Kurdistan. Her remarks on the issue led to her arrest on charges of terrorism in October 2022. A Turkish court released her from prison following her conviction, after she had spent more than two months in pre-trial custody.