Releasing a statement about the Turkish state's attacks on martyrs' cemeteries, KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) Executive Council Co-Presidency underlined that; “It must be seen that attacks on the cemeteries of martyrs do directly target the existence of the Kurdish people, and all the values represented by this existence. Protection of martyrs' cemeteries does therefore mean protection of national existence, free and democratic living.”

Describing the demolition and bombing of cemeteries of guerrilla martyrs and the mosques and cemevis (Alevi place of worship) near the graveyards as the utmost point of Turkish state's attacks, KCK said this onslaught openly proved that a war has been started against the Kurdish people and Freedom Movement.

"While guerrillas and people treat the corpses of soldiers and police with respect, the Turkish state and AKP government's attacks on the cemeteries of martyrs do reveal the mindset and nature of the AKP. Attacks on corpses and cemeteries is the top of chauvinism and fascism. These attacks are inarguably inspired by Tayyip Erdoğan whose enmity towards Kurds increased after his failure in elections and remains still unrelieved by the war he has started, attacks on Kurds everywhere and the demolition of HDP buildings. This is why he gave an order for the demolition of martyrs' cemeteries."

Defining the attacks on martyrs' cemeteries as an uprooting operation, KCK reminded of the 12 September 1980 military coup which -it said- had also been done for the same objective of rooting out Turkey's revolutionaries and the PKK.

KCK recalled that this uprooting operation had witnessed heavy torture that is still told about today, detention of hundreds of thousands, arrest of tens of thousands, imprisonment of thousands for dozens of years, torture to death of hundreds and execution of over 50 people.

Remarking that this was the most fascist period imposed on the peoples of Turkey in the history of the country, KCK said the goal of this coup was to root out the freedom and democracy desire of the Kurdish and other peoples in Turkey.

The statement noted that similarly, ISIS bombed not only churches but also tombs and mosques of Muslims in order to root out all the cultural monuments and traces of the history belonging to the cultures that don't arrange with their own idea.

According to KCK, the uprooting operation started by Erdoğan and AKP government targets every single person that connotes freedom in Kurdistan, and even the freedom desire of the individuals in their minds.

"Attacks on martyrs' cemeteries reveal the character of the onslaught targeting the Kurdish people and their freedom struggle. Demolition of martyrs' cemeteries aim to root out all the traces of the Kurdish people's struggle for freedom, and clear everything imprinted on the memories. This mindset has reached a very dangerous level for the peoples of Turkey. It is not possible to create stability and peace somewhere where this mindset exists."

KCK emphasized that the Kurdish people and the peoples of Turkey must see what kind of a Turkey is being intended with the attacks on martyrs' cemeteries which -it noted- means extending the scope of the war and deepening it.

Remarking that this war aimed to root out not only the Kurdish Freedom Movement but also all the democracy forces and circles with conscience, KCK said a darker period would lie ahead of Turkey if these attacks and this mindset was not fought against by every culture and every person with conscience and faith.

KCK said the Kurdish people must see that attacks on the cemeteries of martyrs do directly target their existence all the values represented by this existence, and underlined that protection of martyrs' cemeteries does therefore mean protection of national existence, free and democratic living. For this very reason, -KCK said- the Kurdish people must claim the cemeteries of their martyrs everywhere, protest the attacks and not allow further assaults.

"We warn the Turkish state; there could take place a war and enmity between different political forces, but there are some values and cultures revealed by the history of humanity, the primary one of which is the respect for the dead and cemeteries. This is the common culture of humanity. If the Turkish state tramples on these values and crosses the limits, this will create an environment where battles and clashes would get out of hand. In this respect, attacks on cemeteries must be ended, discourses and approaches inclined to sever the ties between peoples entirely must be avoided."

KCK commented that with the attacks on cemeteries, the Turkish state and AKP government have laid bare the fact that the existing mindset, politics and practices are the products of an outdated system that must be challenged.

KCK said attacks have also manifested that an authoritarian, hegemonic and centralist mentality and system does or will not respect the values of peoples and societies, while also proving the essentiality of local democracy and democratic autonomy for a democratic living, and the righteousness of the Kurdish people's initiative for self-rule.

Stressing that it would not be possible to stop the inhuman and outdated mentality and policies embodied by the AKP government unless a freedom and democracy struggle is developed in Turkey and Kurdistan, KCK called upon peoples and democracy forces to embrace the martyrs' cemeteries and declarations of self-rule.

KCK ended its statement by calling on the Kurdish people to spread their works for self-rule and democratic autonomy everywhere, to enhance and protect them in response to the attacks, and to create their own local democracy.