In a declaration "Let us be a voice for peace", 564 personalities from the art and cultural scene in Turkey called for negotiations on a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question. The declaration, which was presented in Istanbul earlier today, was endorsed by artists in Amed (Diyarbakır).

Many personalities, including musicians, art critics, writers, directors, directors, actors, painters, dengbêj and art academics in Amed also presented the Kurdish version of the declaration, titled "Li hemberî tecrîdê em bibin dengê aşîtiyê”.

Many people participated in the press briefing at the Dicle Culture and Art Association building in the central Sur district.

Kurdish PEN Co-President Ömer Fidan read out the declaration, which was followed by the slogan "Jin, Jiyan, Azadî" (Woman, Life, Freedom).

Among the signatories of the declaration are prominent names such as musician Cevdet Bağca, writer Ayşegül Devecioğlu, art critic and painter Feyyaz Yaman, author Firat Cewerî, director Haşim Aydemir, actress Jülide Kural, musician Mikail Aslan, documentary filmmaker Nejla Demirci, photographer Özcan Yaman, painter Sevinç Altan, author Şanar Yurdatapan and director and DEM deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder.

“We, the people of art and literature, who will not stand by and watch Turkey waste another century, propose to weave together a future in which all ethnic, religious and cultural identities live freely and are not oppressed or subjected to pogroms,” say the signatories, calling for negotiations to solve the problems experienced in Turkey, including the isolation and war policies that deepen social and economic crises; unlawful imprisonment of thousands of people for their political views; ongoing hunger strikes joined by thousands of prisoners; the Kurdish question that can only be resolved  through negotiation, and the government’s politics of oppression, isolation and war.