Fehima Poyraz, mother of Deniz Poyraz, the HDP Izmir Provincial Organisation member, who was killed in an armed assault targeting the office carried out by Onur Gencer said: “One Deniz goes and a thousand Deniz come”. The words by Fehima Poyraz recalled those by Suad Mistefa, mother of Hevrin Xelef, the late secretary-general of Syrian Future Party, at her daughter’s funeral ceremony. At the time she had said: “Thousands of Hevrin will come”.

Hevrin Xelef and Deniz Poyraz were both killed by fascist forces linked to the Turkish state. Even if the two women were born in different lands, they had many experiences in common. They both struggled for women’s liberation, justice, equality and national unity.

‘Women’s struggle is increasing’

Suad Mistefa, mother of martyr Hevrin Xelef, extended her condolences to Deniz Poyraz’s family and condemned the mentality behind both murders. She said: “Women’s struggle is increasing despite detentions and killings. They murdered the humanity in the person of Comrade Deniz. International human right organisations should take a clear stance. Their silence can only mean being partner in crimes.”

‘The Turkish state kills civilians’

Suad Mistefa added: “When Deniz Poyraz was murdered, her breakfast had been left unfinished. Similarly, when Hevrin Xelef was killed, the article that she was writing was left unfinished. The women who struggle for freedom have been organising actions to get their comrades’ dreams come true.”

Condemning the silence about the murder Suad Mistefa added: “Hevrin and Deniz have never fired one bullet in their lives. So-called human rights defenders claim that their doors are open for all civilians but, they have not said anything about the killing of the two civilian politicians.”

 ‘They are enemies of women’

Suad Mistefa said: “The Turkish occupiers consider women as the greatest obstacle for their goals. Therefore, they primarily attack them. Women are aware of this: We will never surrender to the enemy. They think that our struggle will end with such killings. But, we will continue to stand with higher power.”

‘We are proud of our children’

Suad Mistefa stressed the will of Deniz Poyraz’s mother against the state forces and added: “I feel mother Fehime’s emotions. I experienced the same feelings. She should continue to keep her head up. Those who murdered our children are killers sharing the same mentality. Our children have done nothing bad, they struggled for honour; we are proud of them and we will continue their struggle by following their paths.”

‘Erdogan must give up this policy of murders’

Stressing the need for Turkish mothers to stop Erdogan, Suad Mistefa added: “Erdogan must give up slaughtering women and looting other peoples’ territories. Blood cannot be cleared with the blood.”