Following Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Ocalan's “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” on 27 February, the PKK convened its 12th Congress and announced the end of its work. Civil society organisations and institutions in Turkey and Kurdistan also want the government and the state to take steps to ensure the success of the process.

 

The Democratic Alevi Associations (DAD) and the Alevi Bektashi Federation (ABF) are among the organisations that support the process.

 

'THE CALL HAS FOUND A RESPONSE IN THE SOCIETY'

 

Mustafa Karabudak, Co-chair of the Ankara Branch of the DAD, stated that Abdullah Öcalan's call for peace has found a response in the society: "Peace is not only a problem of Kurds but also of the main elements of this land. Alevis demand peace the most. However, they are not ready yet. Alevi institutions and opinion leaders should come together and clarify where they will stand in the peace process and their demands. Peace will bring material, spiritual, political and social relief. A commission should be established in the parliament with equal members from all parties. Kurds, Alevis, women, LGBT+ individuals and all others should be interviewed. The government is making enemies of those who do not think like it. Demands must be registered in a democratic constitution.”

 

DEMANDS OF THE ALEVI

 

Listing the prioritised demands of Alevis, Karabudak said: "Isolation is inhumane and must be lifted. Ill prisoners must be released without any reason or cause. The situation of political prisoners should be recorded, the process should be accelerated and those with state of emergency decrees should return to their jobs.  The law should operate objectively and the state should be sincere. Alevis, on the other hand, have demands that they have been voicing for years. Djemevis should be granted legal status, the identity and belief problem of Alevis should be solved, compulsory religion classes should be abolished, and the attacks on the sacred places in the region Dersim, Adıyaman and Malatya, with hydroelectric power plants and mining exploration should be stopped. The state should remove the Alevi desk in the Ministry of Culture, which assimilates Alevis. Alevis are the essential element of this land. They should be recognised for their beliefs and the policy of creating ‘reasonable’ Alevis should end. Let peace come, let everyone breathe easy in these lands where the dirty war has led to economic crisis."

 

'WHAT THE PEOPLES THINK IS OF INTEREST'

 

ABF Secretary General Özgür Kaplan stated that the denial of Kurdish identity is no longer sustainable and that Kurds cannot be ignored by denying them. "The state may have taken a step with its Middle East policy, but we are interested in what the peoples think on the street, in the village, in the factory. The feelings and expectations of those who have experienced migrations, exiles, poverty and loss of life are important. Alevis want a country where all identities are happy, not just for themselves. As Alevis, we do not want to live in a place where Kurds, Armenians and Assyrians do not feel good," he said.

 

'THE PATH TO PEACE MUST PASS THROUGH EVERYWHERE'

 

Stating that the PKK's decision to end its activities is an important step in the history of Turkey, Kaplan stressed: "This concerns everyone from racists to socialists. As Alevis, we participated in the meetings organised under the leadership of the DEM Party and shared our ideas. Alevism is a world view that advocates not only freedom of belief but also collective life. We want 72 nations to live together with respect. The road to peace must pass through Diyarbakır, Hacı Bektaş and everywhere. If it passes through Hacı Bektaş, everyone will shoulder the process and more meaningful results will be achieved."

 

'WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY'

 

Expressing his concerns about the process Kaplan said: "The ruling partners, especially the racists and shariaists, have a denial and extermination approach towards Alevi identity. Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş's statements on Idris-i Bitlisi and Shah Ismail in Şırnak contain hate speech against Alevi identity. Despite this mentality, we must organise the process. Alevis, Kurds and other marginalised identities must be represented in the commission. It should not be those of Alevi origin, but those who clearly represent the Alevi identity. If a transparent offer comes and we go, we take responsibility.”

 

MA / Ömer Güngör