The World Peace Day rally in Amed (Diyarbakır), organized by the Green and Left Future Party (Green Left Party) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) under the motto “Equal and free life for social peace” kicked off at the İstasyon Square in the afternoon.

Green Left Party Co-Spokesperson Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar, DPB Co-Chair Saliha Aydeniz, deputies Adalet Kaya, Halide Türkoğlu, Newroz Uysal and members of the Free Women’s Movement (TJA) marched to the rally site behind a banner reading “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (Woman, Life, Freedom) and “Freedom for women prisoners”.

People chanted “Leader of peace is in Imrali” as they entered the area after a police search at two points.

Those attending the rally include Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chair Berdan Öztürk, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Saliha Aydeniz, Green Left Party Co-Spokesperson Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar, deputies and thousands of residents. The event began with a minute of silence in memory of those who fell in the struggle for freedom and democracy, after which the Kurdish resistance song “Çerxa Şoreşê” (The Wheel of Revolution) was loudly sang together.

DTK Co-Chair Berdan Öztürk saluted the crowd and stated that 1 September would be meaningful in a country where there is peace.

Speaking about the history of World Peace Day and the struggle of the Kurdish people for freedom, Öztürk denounced the aggravated isolation regime imposed on Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, who, he said, gave hope to peoples in Turkey and the Middle East and was subjected to isolation by the AKP-MHP government seeking to crush this hope because of their hostility to democracy and peace.

Öztürk pointed out that the economic crisis experienced in Turkey today is a result of the anti-Kurdish war which has brought democracy to an end and seeks to cover up the regime’s fascist mentality and vicious policies.

Öztürk criticized the opposition parties’ attitude with regard to the massive violation of human rights, the Kurdish question and isolation and asked them to raise their voices to come up with a solution to these problems.

“The mentality of Hitler endures in Kurdistan, where people are subjected to atrocities. It is not possible to finish us off with war, death and torture. Turkey must achieve an honorable peace, which is the only solution,” he said.

Referring to the importance of Abdullah Öcalan, Öztürk said: “Öcalan’s ideas have spread all over the world today as he resists this fascist mentality. We set out for an honorable peace. We have paid a huge price and will continue to pay it to the very end, until freedom is achieved. The Kurdish question concerns not only Turkey, but the entire Middle East today. Should it be resolved in Turkey, it will also be resolved in the Middle East. Fascism is the reason why people can’t afford bread today. Hold the hand extended by Öcalan for peace. If you do that, peace can be achieved. Our struggle will continue until an honorable peace is achieved.”

Speaking after, Green Left Party Co-Spokesperson Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar said: “We are against those who impose a world with wars. We are the people who know peace and war best. The state mindset has long sought to assimilate and isolate the Kurds, facing resistance from the Kurds for a hundred years. This resistance continues to keep our will for peace strong.”

Uçar criticized the Turkish state’s efforts to get external support for its ongoing war against the Kurdish people, saying: “The government poisons society. In response, we will unite and build peace with our own hands. All the policies pursued by the government against the Kurds since 2015 have been frustrated by resistance. They have failed, and they will fail again.”

Uçar also criticized the usurpation of municipalities in the Kurdish region, the persecution of political prisoners, the attacks against the Kurdish population and the policies of impunity, vowing that the Kurdish people will still continue to raise their voice for peace.

“The peace to be built here is a great step towards a democratic republic and co-existence. Now is the time for peace. Now is the time to win,” she said.