MÊRDÎN - Guarding, oppression, violence, detention, imprisonment, exile and death could not stop the Tekin family's resistance. Fettah and Gurbet Tekin couple, who lost 2 of their children in conflicts, 2 of whom became guerrillas, and 1 of whom was captured, are at the Justice Watch for the freedom of Abdullah Ocalan.

 

The life story of Fettah and his wife Grubet Tekin, who have continued the Justice Watch at the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Provincial building in Mêrdîn since the first day, demanding the physical freedom of PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan and a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue, is like a resistance epic. This life, for which words are not enough, continues to burn like a torch in the Kurdish freedom struggle. Fettah Tekin, who had to migrate against the imposition of village guards in Zonê (Aran) village of Mêrdîn's Artuklu district in 1987, returned to his homeland after the torture he suffered and is now the provincial representative of the Association for Assistance with the Families of Detainees and Convicts (TUHAYDER). Gurbet Tekin, who endured all the torture with her husband but did not step back from resisting for a moment, is the Co-President of the Assistance, Solidarity, Unity and Culture Association with Families Who Lost Their Relatives in the Cradle of Civilizations (MEBYADER). The Tekin couple, both 59 years old, continue to lead the resistance despite their age. Almost every member of the 10-member Tekin family, who returned first to Qoser, then to Mêrdîn, Istanbul, Artuklu, Stewr (Savur), Evîna (Sürgücü), Adana and again to Mêrdîn against the imposition of the village guards, was in and out of prison. Baba Tekin was arrested in 1992 while facing constant detention and pressure.

 

MIGRATION, OPPRESSION AND PRISON…

 

Süleyman Tekin (Mazlum Mêrdîn), the eldest son of the family who had to move to Istanbul in 1997 after being released from prison where he was held for a while, joined the PKK and died in Dersim Pülümür in 2005. In 2010, the family's other son, Selim (Çekdar - Mazlum Nisêbîn), joined the PKK and lost his life during the self-government resistance. In 2011, their 16-year-old son Delil Tekin was arrested and sent to prison. Soon after, in October 2012, father Fettah Tekin, who was the MEYADER Qoser Representative at the time, mother Gurbet, who was the District Co-Chair of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), and their daughter Vesile Tekin were arrested and put in prison. When Vesile Tekin was arrested, she had to take her two little girls to prison with her. Tekin's two daughters are still in the guerrilla ranks. Their son, Yılmaz Tekin, had to leave the country after spending a while in prison.

 

'OUR STORY IS LONG'

 

Father Fettah Tekin said: "Our story is long, it cannot end with telling it. They inflicted great suffering. Constant pressure, constant threats... Two years ago, I was detained again. I was subjected to threats again. One of my children went to Rojava, they tried to persuade him to come. They tried to send it in front of HDP's Amed Provincial building, but I did not accept it. They even threatened my grandchildren." 

 

He did not cut the hair of  his son, whom he named Zindan, for 12 years in order to protest the surrender of PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan to Turkey with an international conspiracy in 1999. Explaining that Zindan's hair was cut after Ocalan sent the news, Tekin expressed his experiences as follows: "We are constantly in and out of prison. We have not been able to leave the prison gates since 1992. One of us enters, one of us leaves. So is it now. We don't know how long it will continue. We have not stepped back since 1992. Our demand and purpose are clear. Free people, free country! We took this path for this purpose. As long as this does not happen, we will not turn back from our path."

 

'WE WANT FREEDOM OF OCALAN'

 

Stating that they are protesting today for the physical freedom of PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan, father Tekin said: “We do not think that abolishing the isolation is enough today. Previously, we were saying that the isolation must be abolished and his family and lawyers must meet him, but today we want the Leader of the Kurds to be released. It is enough. Unless the Leader is free, even if our children are released, they will not be free, and neither can we. Our country will not be free either. The war in the Middle East cannot be stopped either. Wherever you look today, everything that is happening is due to this isolation. This is because the Leader cannot share his ideas with the society. If Turkey's economy is in this situation today, what is the reason for this? There is a group that is making profit from this war. This war is being continued in line with their demands. As long as the Leader is in this situation, these deaths and this war will not stop. That's why we want them to release the Leader. It will be able to stop not only the war between the Kurds and the Turks, but also the wars in the Middle East.”

 

'WE ARE DETERMINED, WE ARE WILLING'

 

Pointing out that those who react to Israel's attack on Gaza are playing ostrich in the Kurdish issue, Tekin continued as follows: "Today, they say that Israel kills civilians and hits civilian areas. Power plants are being hit in Rojava. Aren't these civilian areas? Aren't petrol stations civilian areas? Aren't hospitals civilian areas? First look at what's in front of your own eyes and then talk about others. We do not accept this. That's why we say; Release our Leader as soon as possible. We will not end this action unless our  Leader is released. Even if they put us in prison or whatever they do, we are determined and strong-willed. This action continues in this way today. But it will continue in different ways in the coming days. Free our Leader and free our children as soon as possible. It is enough. Let this war end as soon as possible.

 

HERE WILL BE A SOLUTION IF WE ARE ORGANIZED

 

If they want the economy to improve, they must stop spending on this war. There is no need to go and look for money at the doors of other states. The solution is in Imralı. Why did they open the Kobanê Conspiracy case today? Aren't you ashamed when you look at the Dolmabahçe Agreement? These actions are cruelty. Unacceptable. Our people must also be vigilant and not accept these. Today, families of prisoners and Mothers for Peace must not be the only ones at the Justice Watch. All mothers must gather here. We must be thousands. We must bring the solution. The more organized and stronger we are, the sooner the solution will come."

 

MA / Ahmet Kanbal