39 people from different European countries, including journalists, writers, academics, trade unionists, parliamentarians and lawyers, have recently travelled to Istanbyl to meet with Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan. 

 

The names visited Asrın Law Office and People’s Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party and then organised a “Round Table” meeting. At the meeting, they discussed which activities could be carried out to solve the Kurdish issue. 

 

 

Djemila Benhabib, President of the Secular Collective Movement, spoke about their visit. Djemila Benhabib, who joined the delegation from Brussels, stated that she works on the theme of human rights and women's struggle at the Action Secular Centre. 

 

'WE HAVE SOMETHING TO LEARN FROM THE KURDS'

 

Djemila Benhabib said that the main reason she wanted to meet with Abdullah Öcalan was Öcalan’s struggle for a democratic society. Pointing to Abdullah Öcalan’s, she said: “I am particularly interested in the place given to women in the construction of democracy. This is important not only for the Kurdish society but for all Middle Eastern societies. Error is the key point of women’s struggle. That is why I want to meet, discuss and talk with Mr Öcalan.”

 

Djemila Benhabib stated that she was impressed by Abdullah Öcalan's vision and struggle: "The most important thing is that he never gave up and never lost hope. This is very important. Because today's world is going through a climate crisis and a very strong shaking, perhaps at a depth we have never seen before. We have very important lessons to learn from the Kurdish people. For example, we have learnt a lot from them about courage and resistance. Especially 'jin, jiyan, azadî', which started in Iran, has become an international slogan. Therefore, this now has a global meaning. And right here I would like to thank the Kurdish people for showing us such an element of courage."

 

'WE ARE GOING THROUGH A HISTORICAL PERIOD'

 

Djemila Benhabib stated that women have a great responsibility in the solution of the Kurdish issue: "It is important to work, but the point to be considered here is not only the work of the lower stratum, we need to carry out a multi-based work. It is important to come side by side with the society, but we also need to work in close relations with the upper segments of the society, parliamentarians and activists. In this way we can change minds. It is necessary to emphasise here that the struggle cannot be without identity. Because it is the issue of belief and identity that feeds the struggle and the spirit."

 

Djemila Benhabib pointed out that we are going through a historical period and said: "Because the PKK is laying down arms. I don't see this as a defeat or defeatism, it is a transformation. But we should understand well what kind of transformation we are going through in terms of the establishment of democracy. Because we are talking about a population of 40 million. This is a very important figure in the Middle East. Therefore, the Kurdish movement is of great importance for the construction of democracy."

 

'WE SHOULD PROCEED BY MEASURING THIS PROCESS'

 

Emphasizing that the process should proceed with reassuring steps, she said: “I do not have much enough information about the reaction of the state. But I know this; Erdogan wants to become a problem solver in this process of transformation in the Middle East. We are going through a historical period for the Kurdish people, but so far the state has only made promises. We saw what happened during the DAESH period, they were let down halfway. We need to learn from the promises made and the broken promises. Trust is a political element. It is not complete trust, but I think it is necessary to establish trust in a political sense and proceed by measuring it. I do not trust Erdogan, I must state this.”

 

'ÖCALAN MUST BE RELEASED'

 

Djemila Benhabib stated that their demand was for the physical freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and concluded: “Not only Mr Öcalan, but also other PKK prisoners must be released. Otherwise, how will they sit at the negotiation table with their hands tied? First of all, they need to be released. We will go through a difficult and long-lasting period. There may be tensions and some setbacks ahead of us. We have entered a long-term process and we should proceed by observing.”

 

MA / Esra Solin Dal