The march launched by the Free Women's Movement (TJA) on October 1 under the slogan “We walk to freedom with hope” continues on its fourth day. On the third day of their action, the women marched in Urfa, passing through the village of Amara, birthplace of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, and the district of Birecik, before moving on to Antep. Greeted by hundreds of people here, the women continued their march with great enthusiasm. The women participating in the march, which is accompanied by slogans and cheers, are also walking with their stories.

Carrying with them the pain they have endured, the sacrifices they have made, and the story of their struggle, the women marching to Ankara are traveling city to city with seven demands, calling for peace.

Women marching for the establishment of social peace and a democratic solution to the Kurdish question explained why they are participating in the march, saying, “We are marching so that others do not have to go through what we have experienced.”

One of these women is Hatice Uyar, the mother of Fatma Uyar, who was killed by the Turkish state in Silopi district of Şırnak on January 5, 2016, during the self-governance resistance, along with Sêvê Demir and Pakize Nayır.

‘All mothers need to make this demand’

Hatice Uyar stated that she joined the march to prevent further massacres and called on the state to confront past massacres during the ongoing process seeking democratization and a solution.

Uyar said, “All those who have paid the price and suffered must assume responsibility in this process. Peace is essential for all of us.”

‘The state must take sincere steps’

Emphasizing that they do not want anyone to get hurt or blood to be shed, Hatice Uyar expressed their desire for an equal, free, and fair life, saying, “We only want peace and beauty. Today, not only us, but all mothers need to make this demand. We mothers must always stand up and fight for the future of our children.”

Uyar continued: “Peace will be good for all of us. We fully support the process initiated by Mr. Öcalan. At this point, all peoples must join hands for the building of peace. The Kurdish people have either been massacred, thrown into prisons, or exiled. These atrocities must end, and the state must take sincere steps by acknowledging the crimes it has inflicted upon this people."

‘We don’t want anyone to die’

Hatice Uyar, whose daughter was murdered in 2016, stated that she is marching so that others do not experience the same pain, and continued: “We don’t want anyone to die. My daughter was murdered, and I don’t want anyone else’s daughter or son to be murdered. Today, while we are demanding peace, the state has not taken a single step for months. Our demands must not go unanswered; the state must now take action."

Hatice Uyar said she has not given up on her call for peace despite everything. She addressed Turkish mothers, saying, “If I can say ‘peace’ here today despite everything, then Turkish mothers should be able to say it without hesitation. More bloodshed will benefit no one. My belief in peace gives me strength. I walk from one end of the country to the other with this belief. Everyone must take this step.”