Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's 76th birthday was celebrated with great enthusiasm with a two-day festival held in April 4 Park in Xelfetî (Halfeti) district of Riha (Urfa). The festival, which was attended by thousands of citizens from Kurdistan and Turkey, could not be prevented despite all attempts. The festival was marked by Abdullah Öcalan's “Call for Peace and Democratic Society”, which was shared with the public on February 27, and the call for the state to take steps came to the fore.

 

Women participating in the festival spoke about the festival and the process.

 

'THE BIRTHDAY OF THE KURDS'

 

Sıdıka Deniz, 55, participated in the festival from Wahnê Balê hamlet, 4 kilometers from Amara neighborhood where Abdullah Öcalan was born, said, “We set out early in the morning. The birthday of the leader is the birthday of all Kurds. Our only wish is to celebrate his next birthday with him. We want to see and listen to him. There is a process and the Leader is doing its part. They even tried to prevent the festival. May the birthday of the leadership be an occasion for peace.” 

 

Naile Deniz, 80, stated that she remembers Abdullah Öcalan from her childhood and youth. "I send my love from here to İmralı. My only wish is to see him before I die. I am 4 years older than him. Our villages are very close to each other. When he was young, he used to come to our village and eat at our house. When he was studying at school in Jibin, he used to lead the children. We heard him praying in front of the children. I want him to be free. Enough is enough, people should not die. This struggle has been going on for centuries. This struggle continues from İbrahim Khalil to Sheikh Said and until today."

 

'WE ARE BEHIND OUR LEADER'

 

Meryem Urucu, 69, who attended the festival from the rural Çîkan neighborhood of Hewag (Bozova), 15 kilometers from Amara, said, “The leader came to our village about 50 years ago and swam in the Cîkan Stream. He was a university student then. When his friends told him that he would be swept away in the water, he said, 'If I am swept away in this water, all of Kurdistan will be swept away'. My cousin who was there saw and heard it. He used to tell us all the time. We stand behind our leader.” 

 

İslim Urucu, who lost a brother during the conflicts, said, “My brother Hamza followed his path in Kobani and lost his life. We have full faith in the Leader. He is not only the leader of Kurds living in Turkey, but of all Kurds. He wants peace and we are behind him. Peace is the end of this. Just as everywhere benefits when it rains, everyone will benefit equally with peace. The whole world will benefit if there is peace. Apo will come out of İmralı and we will see him.” 

 

'THE STATE MUST TAKE A STEP'

 

Havva Yalçınkaya, 52, the mother of Dijwar Tolhildan, who lost his life during the conflicts, stated that their only demand was peace and said, “Let good things happen and end this persecution. We want to celebrate April 4th with Önderlik. Leader has called for peace, but the state has not taken any steps yet.” 

 

Fatma Beçet, mother of Ayten Beçet, who took her life on March 23, 2019 in Gebze Women's Closed Prison against the isolation against Abdullah Öcalan, came to Xelfetî from Dîlok (Antep) to attend the festival. Fatma Beçet said, “We are waiting for our leader to be released from prison. The state has not taken a step until today. From April 4 Park, we call on the state; take a step as soon as possible. No one can stand in front of peace.” 

 

MA / Emrullah Acar