1st September International Peace Day was marked with marches, events, rallies and press conferences across Turkey and North Kurdistan.

Thousands took to the streets in many districts and cities across North Kurdistan and Turkey to mark the International Peace Day demanding peace and the restart of negotiations for a democratic resolution.

ŞIRNAK

Thousands gathered at Aşitî Square in Şırnak and held a march to Azadî Square frequently chanting the slogans “No to war, Peace right now”, “Reject, resist, say no to war”, “Against the war of the palace stands the peace of the people”. Speaking at the rally at Azadî Square, DBP Şırnak branch vice co-chair Hafız Özcan voiced the need for mutual ceasefire and return to peace process and negotiations.

CİZRE

A large crowd held a march in Cizre district of Şırnak led by Free Women’s Congress (KJA) and TUHAD-FED under the main slogan “Freedom for Öcalan, peace for the country”. The march was also attended by HDP deputies and co-mayors. Speaking at the rally held after the march outside of the Governor's Office, HDP Mardin deputy Erol Dora said no one was able to bear the war and its consequences anymore and therefore negotiations with the Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan must immediately be restarted. Members of Peace Mothers' Assembly left their white headscarf in front of the governor's office as a symbol of the peace.

AMED

HDP and DBP members read out a press statement at Istasyon Square in the main Kurdish city Amed. The crowd joining the event frequently chanted the slogans “We will become not the slaves of the palace, but the hope for peace”, “Murderer state, go out of Kurdistan”, “No to war, peace right now”.

Speaking here, Amed DBP branch co-chair Ali Şimşek said the Kurdish people would not accept this dirty war imposed on them. Amed HDP branch co-chair Ömer Önen also highlighted the demand for peace saying that the peoples of Middle East desired a democratic life based on freedoms, equality and justice rather than a one-man-rule.

MARDİN

Mardin Peace Bloc organised an event at Cumhuriyet Square, opening giant banners in three languages -Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic- saying “No to war, peace right now”, “Long Live Peace”, and “Raise voice for peace”. The crowd held a march to Diyarbakır Gate after the speech made by Şükrü Aktaş who stressed that the current war imposed on the Kurdish people was the war of the palace.

URFA

A large number of people held a march in Urfa centre under the leadership of Democracy Platform. Armoured vehicles followed the crowd during the march, which was also joined by HDP Urfa deputy Dilek Öcalan. Speaking at the rally held after the march, IHD Urfa branch chair Atilla Yazar said the war was not the war of the peoples and it was the mothers of fallen soldiers, policemen and guerrillas that can stop the war all together.

ADIYAMAN

Members of Adıyaman Peace Initiative gathered at Democracy Park carrying banners in Kurdish and Turkish which read “We want peace not war”, “Mutual ceasefire”, “We want life, not death”. Speaking here, IHD Adıyaman branch chair Osman Süzen drew attention to the urgent need for the improvement of PKK Leader's conditions in Imrali in order for the negotiations to restart.

Mother of a guerrilla called on all mothers to raise their voices against the ongoing war. Speaking after, another mother whose son is currently doing his military service, called for the immediate silence of arms.

ANTEP

Hundreds of people from the Peace Bloc in Antep gathered at Kırkaya Park, from where they marched to Yeşilsu Park under the banner which read “Immediate peace and democracy against the war of the palace”. Speaking here, IHD branch co-chair Hasan Önder called for a return to Dolmabahce Agreement and end to the war.

VAN

A march led by Democracy Platform was held in Van to mark the World Peace Day under the main banner “We want peace, and you?”. The crowd frequently chanted the slogans “Long Live Peace”, “Long Live Leader Apo”, “No to war, Peace right now” under intense security measures of the police forces.

ÇALDIRAN

A press conference was held in the area of human shield action carried out for a while against the declaration of Mount Tendürek a military zone. The statement read out by DBP district branch co-chair Nasır Ürgen stressed that a dirty war was imposed on the Kurdish people for long years, despite which the people did not want bloodshed anymore. Ürgen said the AKP wanted to continue the war despite the will of the people for peace.

HAKKARİ

Democracy and Labour Platform organised a march in Hakkari province which remains under police attacks for the last days. A large crowd demanded peace and frequently chanted the slogans “We will not allow you to make war”, “Long Live Peace” under the banners which read “We will not allow our children to die for your ruling”, “Bilal (son of Erdoğan) go to military, Taner (Energy Minister) go to the front”.

BİTLİS

Bitlis Peace Bloc also organised a march and a rally afterwards under the banners which read “Let’s build the peace all together”, “We don’t want our children to die”, “We will stop the AKP and the war”. Speaking here, a member of KESK, Kenan Avkan said the ongoing war was started after the 7 June as the AKP lost its power in the elections.

HİZAN

Democratic People’s Assembly members held a people’s fest at Cumhuriyet Square in Hizan district of Bitlis. Hundreds participated in the action which continued with performances of local musicians and traditional Kurdish folk dance performance.

İSTANBUL

The four main labour organisations of Turkey, which are also the components of the Peace Bloc, DISK, KESK, TMMOB and TTB, held a press conference at Galatasary Square in Taksim/Istanbul, which was also supported by HDP Istanbul branch.

The crowd held placards which read “Peace” in Turkish, Kurdish and Armenian and frequently chanted the slogans “AKP wants war; people want peace”, “No to war, peace right now”.

The press statement read out here by Süleyman Yıldız stressed that this was not the war of the people but the war of the palace and the AKP, and demanded immediate return to peace process for a democratic resolution.

Peace Bloc co-spokesperson Gencay Gürsoy also made speech, stressing that the state and Palace forces have entered the Kurdistan territory as occupation forces today and are targeting not only the guerrillas but also the civilians. He added that the people in the western part of Turkey must also raise their voices for peace.

Gürsoy called on all the peace lovers to join the peace rally to be held on September 6 at Bakırköy People’s Market.