SIRNAK - Havahan Ataman, who has not been able to receive the remains of her daughter who lost her life in Besta 5 years ago, condemned the attacks in the South with the words "Our children are protecting Barzani's lands, but Barzani is betraying our children".

 

Havahan Ataman (68), who lives in Sirnak's Beytüşşebap district, has been trying to get her daughter's remains for 5 years. Havahan Ataman struggled to retrieve the remains of her daughter Elif Ataman who joined the PKK in 2013 and lost her life in an armed conflict in the Nokta Xezale of Besta region in 2017. Ataman said that her daughter died "for an honorable life". Havahan Ataman also condemned the KDP's and Turkey's attacks on Federated Kurdistan Region.

 

FOR 5 YEARS, SHE HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET HER DAUGHTER'S REMAINS

 

Explaining that they migrated from Beytüşşebap to İzmir and that their daughter Elif was born in İzmir in 1985, Ataman said: "We returned to our hometown after many years. My daughter Elif, who was still in high school, took her place in the freedom struggle by participating in youth activities after returning to Şırnak. Elif continued her studies in Diyarbakır, where she went to study at Dicle University, Faculty of Communication. Elif was detained in 2009 while distributing leaflets in Silopi district, joined the PKK due to the increasing pressure on her. Elif lost her life in the armed conflict that broke out in the Nokta Xezale of Besta region in 2017. I do not know where my daughter's remains is and so I have been struggling to get my daughter's remains for 5 years."

 

'ELİF WAS ALWAYS ON A QUEST OF FINDING HERSELF'

 

Stating that her daughter is always in search of something, Ataman said: “We immigrated to İzmir due to a family problem. My daughter Elif was born there. Elif attended primary school there. Later we came back to Silopi. She witnessed the persecution of the Kurds more closely in Silopi. Elif kept telling me: "I am not at peace. Some people close their doors and stay home while other people's homes are destroyed. Death will come one day but it must be an honourable death." A few days after she told me these, she joined the PKK."

 

I have not been able to receive the remains of my daughter for 5 years. We gave a blood sample here to receive her remains if it is a match. I would be much happier if she had a grave. My only wish is to be able to bury her, even if there is only a bone left behind."

 

ATAMAN CONDEMNED BARZANI

 

Expressing that the main reason for thecontinued  deaths is Turkey's attacks on the Federated Kurdistan Region and the KDP that allowed these attacks, Ataman said: "If the Kurds collaborate to each other, no one can hurt them. Our children are protecting Barzani's lands, but he is betraying our children. Barzani is betraying his own country. Mothers should no longer receive news of their children's death. They kill our children and build buildings on the ground they fell and get become rich."