'The accusation against Peace Mothers: Depositing money for their imprisoned children'

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Green Left Party (YSP) Co-Spokesperson Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chairperson Saliha Aydeniz, YSP Members of Parliament and executives, visited the families of Peace Mothers who lost their lives in a traffic accident, while returning from giving statements at the Prosecutor's Office in Hakkari related to the investigation started with the house raids on August 15.

After the condolence visit in the town of Esendere in Hakkari's Yüksekova district, Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar spoke to the press.

Accusation: Depositing money into prisons

The co-spokesperson stated that the Peace Mothers are waging the most honorable struggle for the Kurdish issue and that they are continuing their struggle for peace without giving up.

She explained the reason why those who died in the traffic accident when returning from Hakkari where they had been to testify to the prosecutors were being investigated. 

"Our Peace Mothers who died in the accident had gone to testify, and the subject they were testifying about was this: As you know, almost all families have children or loved ones in prison. The accusation was that they deposited money into prisons, that is, for their children," Kılıçgün Uçar said.

Standing before prosecutors and courts for decades

"One of Turkey's most significant problems is the Kurdish issue," said Kılıçgün Uçar and added, "The current government determines its economic policy, both foreign and domestic policies, based on the Kurdish issue. We know that they don't have any proposed solutions on their agenda. Throughout the history of the Republic, along with many laws, the Annihilation Plan, the Kobani Trap Case, and the appointment of trustees to replace elected mayors are the policies this government and the state have implemented in relation to the Kurdish issue. Instead of seeking a solution to the Kurdish issue, the government used the mothers on a sit-in in Diyarbakır when speaking about the problem."

She explained that those who are involved in the struggle for a solution to the Kurdish issue have stood before prosecutors and courts for decades.

"The sum of our defenses at the courts and before the prosecutors constitute a compendium for the resolution of the Kurdish issue. With these defenses, we haven't worn out the courts, but we have retired the prosecutors and judges in our decades-long struggle. However, the path followed by the state regarding the Kurdish issue is to fuel Kurdish hostility through salary earners. The village guards, the special operations teams, the gendarme; not to mention imams and many civil servants, take positions in this region to disseminate the state's policy. So did you call our mothers to testify for such an accusation? We will also hold you accountable!" she said.

"The voice raised for peace should be heard in the west"

The spokesperson further said in her statement the following:

"You will be held accountable to the Kurdish people, the Peace Mothers, and those who persist in this struggle! As a party, as believers in this struggle, we will not give up on this pursuit, and we will hold them accountable. It is time for a unified voice in the entire country against the policy pursued without seeking a solution to the Kurdish issue.

"The voice raised for peace in Kurdistan should be heard in the West as well. We have fought for this, and we will continue this struggle. Once again, I remember the Peace Mothers with love and mercy. Let this be our promise to the Peace Mothers; our struggle will continue until an honorable peace is achieved."

What happened?

23 people, including Peace Mothers in Hakkari and its districts, were detained in house raids on August 15.

Peace Mothers Adalet Safalı, Perişan Akçelik, and Perişan Akçelik's son Cihan Akçelik, and Lawyer Erdal Safalı, who went from Yüksekova to Hakkari city center to give a statement to the Prosecutor's Office in relation to this investigation, had an accident on their way back.

While Adalet Safalı and Perişan Akçelik lost their lives at the scene, Cihan Akçelik and Erdal Safalı were severely injured and taken to the Hakkari State Hospital. Cihan Akçelik passed away before reaching the hospital, and Lawyer Erdal Safalı is still under treatment.

(AS/PE)