Peace Mothers: Women must meet with the Leader

2025-06-24 09:17:19


	İZMİR - Hanife Budak, wife of Mustafa Budak who lost his life in the October 10 Train Station Massacre, highlighted the importance of the peace process and called on women, especially the Peace Mothers, to visit İmralı and meet with Leader Abdullah Öcalan. 

	The ongoing war and conflicts in the Middle East intensified with the bombardments between Iran and Israel on 13 June. During the same period, the USA also attacked Iran's nuclear facilities. In an environment of war, the importance of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society", made on 27 February is still relevant. 

	 

	Following Öcalan's call, the PKK decided to dissolve on 12 May, while no concrete step has yet been taken by the government. Despite this, many people continue to call on the government to take steps and start the peace process.

	 

	One of these calls came from Hanife Budak, the wife of Mustafa Budak, who was seriously wounded in the ISIS attack on the Labour, Peace and Democracy Rally in Ankara on 10 October 2015.

	 

	HOPE AND WAITING IN THE PEACE PROCESS

	 

	

	 

	Hanife Budak criticized the lack of concrete steps from the government despite the PKK’s disarmament decision. Budak said, “Peace is a heavy word, but we feel the process has started. We are waiting for the Turkish state to take responsibility.” She welcomed Bahçeli’s supportive steps but noted, “We call for peace, but the other side remains unwilling.”

	 

	FAMILIES OF SOLDIERS AND GUERRILLAS SHOULD UNITE

	 

	Budak emphasized the need for families of soldiers and guerrillas to come together to struggle for peace: “We fought together against other countries, so why divide now?”

	 

	WOMEN’S DEMAND TO VISIT İMRALI

	 

	Budak called for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan, release of Selahattin Demirtaş, and sick prisoners. She said women are the pioneers of peace and insisted, “Women, especially the Peace Mothers, must visit İmralı and meet with the Leader. The Turkish state must open this path; if not, we will push for this right.”

	 

	OCTOBER 10 MASSACRE AND DEMAND FOR JUSTICE

	 

	Budak stressed that the perpetrators of the October 10 Massacre must be found and held accountable. “The state deliberately ignored it, but we will never give up,” she said, adding that historical reckoning is essential for an honorable peace.

	 

	MA / Ugurcan Boztas