Diyarbakır civil society rallies for World Peace Day, urges Kurdish resolution, ceasefire

Over 300 civil society organizations in Turkey’s southeastern Diyarbakır province held a rally for Sept. 1 World Peace Day. The group urged to rekindle a resolution of the Kurdish issue, and the cessation of hostilities in Turkey and Palestine alike.

Monday September 02 2024 09:31 am

Duvar English

Some 328 civil society organizations from Diyarbakır and the surrounding region on Sept. 1 issued a joint statement wherein they called for the continued defense of the right to peace in the face of wars, emphasizing the need for a livable world.

Representatives of civil society organizations participated in the statement, which Diyarbakır Bar Association President Nahit Eren read.

"The fundamental goal of humanity is to live in safety and dignity, free from fear. Living in peace in a world without wars is a basic human right," the statement said. It continued by highlighting the international community's responsibilities, as outlined in the United Nations Charter and foundational documents, to ensure global peace and security.

In the past 10 months alone, more than 40,000 people were killed in attacks in Palestine. As is often the case, women and children were the most affected by these assaults. Despite these challenges, the statement urged the persistent defense of the right to peace as essential for a livable world.

"As a society that has experienced the destruction and pain caused by war, conflict, and violence, we understand the importance of peace," the statement continued. "Unfortunately, past efforts aimed at the democratic resolution of the Kurdish issue, which received significant societal support, did not yield the desired outcomes. Despite the resurgence of conflict, operations, and violence, the expectation and hope for a peace-oriented resolution process that prioritizes dialogue and negotiation remain strong across all segments of society."

In February, representatives of civil society, professional associations, and business organizations from the region gathered in Diyarbakır to discuss the Kurdish issue, identifying critical observations and conclusions aligned with societal expectations.

They concluded that the ongoing democratic stagnation and economic crises in the country are directly linked to the unresolved Kurdish issue and the continuation of security-focused policies. The statement called for a new will for resolution, the cessation of hostilities, the removal of obstacles to the roles of relevant actors, and greater responsibility from the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) in addressing this pressing issue.

The statement further emphasized that decades of violence, military operations, and security-focused approaches have only deepened the Kurdish issue, rather than solving it, and have damaged societal peace and the will to live together.

Recent incidents, such as the raids on weddings in various cities, and the detention, arrest, and punishment of individuals dancing to Kurdish songs on the grounds of alleged terrorist propaganda, have highlighted the shortcomings of an approach that limits the resolution of the Kurdish issue to the recognition of "individual rights and freedoms" rather than collective social and political rights.

The signatory organizations declared, "We say ‘enough is enough’ for peace without any ‘ifs’ or 'buts.' Peace must be Turkey's most important and urgent priority. Therefore, we see it as our duty and responsibility to engage with all relevant stakeholders to build a process where peace is once again at the forefront of the national conversation."

The statement concluded by calling on all societal and political actors to fulfill their responsibilities in creating an environment of non-conflict for the peaceful and democratic resolution of the Kurdish issue.