Speaking in a special program broadcast on Medya Haber, KCK Executive Council co-chair Besê Hozat evaluated the UN Human Rights Committee's statement on the isolation imposed on Kurdish people's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and said: "The Kurdish people have enough of statements. Now a statement from the United Nations, yesterday one from the CPT. Tomorrow there will be another one from the ECHR. The next day, there will be the Council of Europe, the European Union, the US. The Kurdish people expect concrete practical steps from these forces, not words."

Protests against the 24th anniversary of Abdullah Öcalan´s illegal imprisonment

"February 15th is a black day for the Kurds. It is a day of genocide. The aim of the International Conspiracy [attacks against the Kurdistan Freedom Movement starting with the illegal imprisonment of Abdullah Öcalan on February 15, 1999] is to bring the Kurdish genocide to a conclusion. Therefore, I would like to condemn the international forces behind the conspiracy. The International Conspiracy has been going on in various forms for 24 years without interruption. It continues in the form of the genocide attacks in North Kurdistan [East Turkey], the occupation and genocide attacks in South Kurdistan [North Iraq] and the occupation and genocide attacks in Rojava. It continues in the form of assassinations, political murders and massacres in Europe. But there is also a strong struggle against the International Conspiracy.

There has been an uninterrupted struggle for 24 years now. On the basis of the resistance of our Leadership [Abdullah Öcalan], our people, the guerrillas, women and young people, this struggle continues in a very glorious way everywhere. The resistance and struggle against the international conspiracy that has continued for 24 years have prevented the conspiracy from reaching its goals and thus defeated it. This struggle has made the movement much bigger and stronger. It has turned it into a regional and universal movement. Today, the international powers are forced to take the movement into account when determining their policy in the region. The status quo regimes in the region are forced to take the movement into account as well. This situation has emerged as a result of the 24 years of struggle against the conspiracy. This also shows clearly: The conspiracy has failed. The forces behind the International Conspiracy have been exposed and all their plans to destroy the movement have failed."

Kurds have had enough of words

"With regards to the isolation of the Leadership, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has recently said that ´there is a complete lack of communication and this must end´. They were forced to make such a statement due to the ongoing struggle. This struggle forces such international institutions to say this. Actually, they are all part of the International Conspiracy. The US, the UK, Israel and European countries took part in it. Many member states of the UN were involved. Many powers, from Russia to Egypt and Iran, took part in this conspiracy. Greece played an active role in it as well. The United Nations Human Rights Committee, which includes all these states and Turkey, has now made such a statement as a result of the struggle that has been going on for 24 years. After the lawyers had filed an application, they had to make this statement. This is, of course, important. This is a sign that we will definitely get results if we continue our struggle.

What the United Nations Human Rights Committee calls a state of ´complete lack of communication´ is actually total isolation. Now, they need to take practical steps. The United Nations needs to take a serious, practical attitude towards Turkey in this regard. They need to implement sanctions. That is what we expect from them. The CPT made similar statements before. There have been serious protests against the CPT for years. Especially in the last year they have intensified. In September [2022], the CPT went to İmralı but did not make any statement afterwards. There are a lot of dubious allegations, a lot of information. It is not clear whether the CPT really went there or not, how they went or how they established contact there. A lot of information with regards to this issue has circulated recently. A lot of information about the health of our Leadership has also been spread.

The CPT has not made a concrete, clear statement yet. The Kurdish people have had enough of statements anyway. Whether it is the United Nations or the CPT. Tomorrow it is the ECHR and the next day it is the Council of Europe, the European Union, the United States of America, etc. The Kurdish people are really fed up with these kinds of statements. Our people and movement expect concrete practical steps from these powers."

March to Gemlik on 6 February

"The isolation and torture system in İmralı must be broken. This system is against universal human rights, international law and conventions to which Turkey is a signatory. It is a crime against humanity. The Council of Europe should not be complicit in this crime against humanity. The United Nations, the USA and all the forces that are responsible for this conspiracy should not be either. They should not stand by and just watch the Kurdish genocide. This is what the Kurdish people expect them to do. There are very important protests developing on this basis.

There is the protest that MPs have been carrying out in front of Turkey´s parliament for weeks. This has created a very important, serious sensitivity of the public. In addition, on February 6, there will be demonstrations from Gever and Qoser to Gemlik. I would like to greet this demonstration in advance. This is very important. But these protests should not be limited only to Gemlik and Qoser. February 15th is approaching. Therefore, protests against the conspiracy must take place in Kurdistan and abroad in a strong way and must not stop. We must turn 2023 into a year in which we ensure the physical freedom of Leader Apo."

We pay respect to martyrs who burn themselves, but these actions should not happen

"People chose to burn themselves in protest against the International Conspiracy. Many comrades and patriots set their bodies on fire as part of the ´You cannot darken our sun´-protests. Recently, two valuable patriots burned themselves in protest. Of course, this creates a certain level of sensitivity in the public. This is very meaningful. It requires great commitment, faith, will and courage. Its meaning and value is great and deep. We will always remember them with respect and gratitude. But such forms of protest should not happen.

This method is not a method that Leader Apo approves of. As a movement, we have the opportunity to struggle everywhere. There are many ways and methods for us to wage our struggle. We need to choose forms of action that harm the enemy, the Turkish state. We need to overcome a style of action that harms ourselves and only appeals to people´s conscience. This is important. Such actions should not happen. In February and in the following months, we need to increase the struggle and resistance everywhere. This is how we can give the most correct and meaningful answer. I found it important to especially emphasize this."

Heavy war and Turkey´s war crimes in South Kurdistan continue

"The situation is not like [the Turkish Defense Minister] Hulusi Akar recently said. He said that ´Operation Claw-Lock´ is finished. But this is not true. The attacks continue. There is a very serious war [in the South Kurdish areas Zap, Metîna and Avaşîn] right now. The Turkish state attacks with chemical weapons dozens of times every single day. It has doubled its use of chemical weapons there. It uses chemical weapons every day in a narrow valley. And it continues to use tactical nuclear weapons. It still uses a lot of banned weapons. So the invasion attacks are not over.

The casualties [of the Turkish army] are very high. They have really suffered huge blows. They don't know what to do anymore. They have suffered thousands of casualties and wounded there. The Turkish army has therefore really suffered a great defeat. The war in Zap is still going on in full intensity. In the valley called Çemço, the war continues in full intensity. Despite using banned chemical weapons so much there, they are not getting any results. The families of the dead soldiers and various organizations made a statement the other day. It is clear that these families are becoming more active.

There are no funerals because their children are missing. They died in the war but not even an explanation is given to these families. Now, their protests are increasing. Previously, there had already been people applying to the HDP, to civil society organizations and human rights organizations. Then they [Turkish state officials] intervened. They paid them some money and also threatened them, thus obstructing these developments. Obviously, the Turkish state has not achieved anything in this war. It will continue to insist on war. But no matter what it does, it is no longer possible to achieve any results. This war has been a clear defeat for the Turkish state. Our friends have resisted heroically, and we have paid a great price. But we have defeated the plans of the Turkish state in 2022. Now, it is unable to get out of its blockage. It had made a very comprehensive occupation plan.

This plan for South Kurdistan has been dealt a serious blow. The Turkish state is committing all kinds of war crimes in the areas where it has gotten stuck. Therefore, putting the use of chemical weapons on the agenda remains important. There was a serious public discussion about this issue and this must continue. The Turkish state is committing very serious war crimes, crimes against humanity. The struggle against this must continue. We must expose the Turkish state with regards to this issue. We must struggle and hold the Turkish state to account for this in every possible way."

Unavoidability of change in Iran due to women´s revolution

"There has been uninterrupted resistance led by women for months. This has led to great social change and transformation. The Iranian state will not stay like this. There will definitely be serious changes in Iran. We will see the effects of this much more clearly in the future. Women's struggles have really gained a regional and universal character. In other words, it is changing the world. The 21st century, the Leadership said, ´will be the century of women´. Indeed, the 21st century has already become the century of women. Now, under the leadership of women, societies are standing up, humanity is standing up. This is very important. In other words, society has been resurrected. Everywhere, demands for freedom, equality, justice and democracy are being voiced loudly and women are leading the way.

Women will really change the world. Women will liberate the world. Women will democratize the world. Women will lead the revolution in the region in particular. Women will be the vanguard of the democratic Middle East revolution. We have been seeing this very concretely in Kurdistan for decades. The Kurdish Women's Freedom Struggle in Kurdistan has seriously influenced and mobilized the women of the region. Today, the center where this has intensified is Iran and East Kurdistan [West Iran]. The state has not been able to suppress this easily there. That is why it is increasing the pressure. It is trying to create fear among the people with its execution policy, trying to break the will of society. But these policies of violence will not yield any results. This regime will not get any results with executions. This will only put the regime in an even deeper deadlock. Therefore, these policies must be abandoned.

The execution policy is one of the most brutal practices in the world. It is a crime against humanity. The regime has to stop this. We are in the 21st century. Everywhere people are on their feet. Women are on their feet. They want freedom, justice and equality. No one, no state power can prevent this. Not Iran, not Turkey. Neither can other states. There is a very serious awareness. The world has turned into a small village. A development in one place affects the other. They strengthen each other and create synergy. What is the right thing to do now? It is to change this policy. To put an end to these executions.

To abolish the execution laws. It is to take democratization as a basis. Iran can only get itself out of this impasse through democratization. If Iran democratizes itself, if it recognizes the rights of women, young people, Kurds, Baloch, Arabs, Persians, in other words of all the identities living in the country, Iran will really become an example for the region. It will become the most democratic power in the region and the most powerful state."