The Democratic Society Congress (DTK), the Free Women's Movement (TJA), the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), the People's Democratic Party (HDP) and parties within the Kurdistan Alliance Working Group released a statement in Amed on Wednesday on the anniversary of the Halabja Massacre in 1998. Kurdistan Communist Party (KKP) Chair Sinan Çiftyürek read out the joint statement in Kurdish, while DBP Co-Chair Saliha Aydeniz read out the Turkish version.

Before reading out the statement, Aydeniz criticised today’s detention of scores of women, including politicians and union representatives in Amed.

Defining the Halabja massacre as the massacre of the Kurdish people’s future, a disaster and a tragedy in the history of humanity, Aydeniz said, “Today is the day to commemorate the genocide carried out by Saddam Hussein and the Baath regime in Kurdish cities, especially Halabja, as part of Operation Anfal in South Kurdistan.”

'CRACKDOWN AND VIOLENCE CANNOT PREVENT THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM'

Aydeniz pointed out that the struggle for freedom cannot be prevented through crackdown and violence. “ISIS, which carried out a massacre against the Yazidis, also experienced this reality and shared the fate of Saddam and the Baath regime. However, this mentality persists today with the invasion attacks on Rojava and South Kurdistan and the use of chemical weapons in the mountains of Kurdistan. The most important reason for these attacks and massacres that took place over the years is the dividedness among the Kurds. The Kurdish people have achieved very important gains through an outstanding struggle and resistance against these attacks. It is thus imperative to build a national unity to protect these gains,” Aydeniz continued.

'EVERYONE SHOULD WORK FOR NATIONAL UNITY'

“Our main focus should be the national interests of the Kurds. Of course, there are naturally ideological differences among us, yet these differences should represent the diversity of Kurdistan but not be an obstacle to unity. A hegemonic war is taking place before our eyes today. As always, the victims of this war are the people. We hope that a lasting and honourable peace will prevail all over the world. We condemn the Halabja massacre once again and remember the Halabja Massacre martyrs with respect,” Aydeniz concluded.