Hope for peace on the streets of Amed: The step taken is very correct 2025-07-11 10:45:17   AMED - Abdullah Öcalan's historic video call for peace created hope and excitement on the streets of Amed. The women to whom we handed the microphone said, ‘The step he has taken is a very correct decision’ and reiterated their demand for peace, justice and equality.   Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's historic video call within the scope of the ‘Peace and Democratic Society Process’ was shared with the public yesterday. Abdullah Öcalan said, "The stage reached necessitates new steps to be put into practice. I believe in the power of politics and social peace, not weapons, and I call on you to realise this principle." 26 years later, the video message resonated not only in Kurdistan and the Middle East but also around the world.   People on the streets of Amed, smiling with the hope of peace and democracy after years, welcomed Abdullah Öcalan's call with great enthusiasm, hope and excitement.    After this historic message that changed the atmosphere of the people in an instant, we handed the microphone to women on the streets of Amed.   'I hope it will be what we feel in our hearts'   Emphasising that they are following the process closely and that good developments are taking place, Sevim Kahramaner said, "We have high hopes. We follow the process closely. There has been a very good breakthrough. I hope it will be what we wish for. The breakthrough is good, the developments are good and we expect better things. At the moment, we are primarily waiting for what needs to be done about sick prisoners. There are those who cannot come from abroad, we are waiting for them to come. The process should make it possible for us and the Kurdish people to have some rights in political terms. We are very happy. In fact, this call was made by Abdullah Öcalan in the past. At that time the Turkish state did not take the initiative, it did something wrong. The step it has taken now is a very correct decision. We are also very happy for this. I hope they will not take a step back."   'We are governed in a democratic country, but this is so-called'   Referring to the fact that Kurds and Turks live in the same geography, Nurgül Kaderci said, "Kurds also bled while fighting for these lands. There were two nations fighting shoulder to shoulder. Only silencing the guns is not an indicator of peace. For there to be peace, people's hearts must first be close to each other. There are situations such as racism, bigotry and ignoring Kurds. Even on social media, Kurds do not have a voice; expressions such as black flags, countryless people and terrorists are indicators of psychological warfare. In these peace steps, Sırrı Süreyya Önder created this ground before he passed away. If there is peace, it will be very good for both sides, mothers will not cry. People's hearts and minds must be cleaned before weapons. Peace must first be realised in the heart and brain, then the weapons will be dropped. So many lives have been lost, but we can recover somehow. Kurds and Turks are both individuals and brothers and sisters in this geography.   We have never seen a step from the state. Both sides would be very happy if there is peace. But not realising this is a great shame. I hope it will be realised. We are governed in a democratic country, but this is only in words. I don't think justice is served in Turkey, as if everything depends on money. Those who commit a crime can hire a lawyer and get out. While there is so much pressure on women, our women are subjected to violence in the streets. Appearing in court in a suit and getting off without being penalised... It is a great injustice for others to live in palaces while there are so many economic problems. I don't know how the process works, but I think people should clean their hearts first."   'Be human before discrimination'   Amine Güzel said that one should be a human being before Kurdish-Turkish discrimination, "The basis of the Turkish-Kurdish problem is the people in charge. I have Turkish nationalist people's point of view towards Kurds. I have Turkish friends too, they come to me and say, “Can you teach me Kurdish?” They say, 'I want to know this geography. For the sake of humanity, one should be human before Kurdish-Turkish discrimination. I wish peace had been considered before the war and people had not died. There is a relationship of interest here. There is a need to win votes somewhere. Why this racism, this hatred? When the origins of Turks and Kurds are clear, they still say “there are no Kurds, there are Turks”. First they need to learn humanity. This does not suit those in charge."   'Mothers should cry no more'   Stating that the peace process will contribute to all areas from economy to social life, Ebru Karahan said, "The peace process will also contribute to the economy. I also have many losses, no one should cry, mothers should not cry anymore. It is not right that the state does not take any steps, the state feeds on chaos. I find the laying down of arms very sincere. What can be more sincere than that after those steps are taken and the weapons are laid down? I hope the state will take a step as soon as possible, this is our only hope."   'Let's live under equal conditions'   Gülay Aydın emphasised that everyone in Turkey should live in peace and said, "There should not be a bottom and a top. Let's live under equal conditions and have the same opportunities. Abdullah Öcalan has said what should be, we should live in peace under equal conditions. We are defending the same thing. Let there not be a game in this again. We had seen the trailer of this, so we need to be careful. How sincere can he be because we saw that trailer? Not at all. I have suffered a lot in this geography, I was marginalised, I was not equal... Just as everyone in Turkey lives democratically and has equal rights, we want the same here. If this is to be achieved through peace, it must happen as soon as possible. This process can also be used to cover up something, so we need to be cautious."