The Kobanê Case continued with the defense of imprisoned politician Gültan Kışanak on the merits. 

 

'WE ARE DEMENDANTS, NOT DEFENDANTS!'

 

Continuing her defense, Kışanak stated that they were not facing a criminal case, but a trial regarding their struggle for democracy and peace. Kışanak said: “This is not a defence. Me and my friends are not defendants, we are demendants. We are against those who wage war against human rights and women's rights. We are suing those who held us as political hostages for years. We are suing those who set up these conspiracies. Even though we have made so much effort for peace and solution, we are still suing those who insist on war and send the children of this country to die and kill. We are the demendants against those who try to judge us for defending peace.

 

ORGANIZED EVIL

 

During this period of being a political hostage, I lost my father, brother, aunt, nephew, sister, uncle, and aunt. I couldn't be with any of them in their last moments, I couldn't say goodbye. On this occasion, I would like to convey my feelings of solidarity to President Selahattin as he could not be with his father in his last moments. I congratulate him for his honorable stance. It is this honorable stance that gives us strength. The root of lawlessness in this country is so cruel. This is called evil. The only thing to do where there is such organized evil is to defend human values, virtue, and an honorable life stance until the end, and to survive and continue the struggle despite the prices they want to make us pay."

 

I WILL PROVIDE MY DEFENSE UNDER THREE TITLES

 

I will make my defense under three headings. First, I will make evaluations under the title of 'Women's Struggle for Freedom'. Woman is life itself. You can't blame me for having a woman's consciousness, or for being a feminist, or for fighting alongside women. I blame you. I blame those who dragged this country into the abyss with the logic of a male state. I blame the coup members of the judiciary. You are the guilty one. Women's struggle for peace is not a crime. Women's struggle for equality is not a crime. Isn't there a FETO member on your right or left? If it's a crime, Kışanak should write somewhere, I will continue women's struggle for democracy and peace."

 

TURKEY’S RESPONSIBILITY WAS TO SIDE WITH THE PEOPLE OF KOBANÊ

 

The reason why we are being tried in the Kobanê Case is very clear. In Kobanê; ISIS committed inhumane practices. Yazidi women continue to be sold by ISIS in Turkey. I did this so that ISIS would not do the same thing in Shengal tomorrow. There was news in ANF saying, ‘Tomorrow may be late, whatever we do, we should do it now. Let's stop ISIS so that Kobanê does not become like Shengal.’ What's the crime in this? Could such a crime be possible? I say to the power; Let them follow the words we have said on this issue and put them before those who gave instructions for this case. You know, there was no discrimination against Kurds in this country? You know, equal citizenship... The opinion states that 'a person's political thoughts, race, gender and language are not subject to litigation'. Aren't saying 'ISIS must be stopped', 'ISIS committing sexual crimes against Kurd women', 'committing massacres' not my political thoughts? Why do you judge? The answer to this is in the opinion. In the opinion, the statement I made in ANF was included that more than 200 thousand civilians live in Kobanê. The review itself wrote that ISIS is coming step by step. War crimes committed against women are especially crimes against humanity. Sexual crimes committed against women are crimes against humanity and are not even subject to statute of limitations. In the name of humanity, on behalf of women, we need to hold them accountable. It was to stand by the Republic of Turkey and the people of Kobane who fell under its power.

 

TO THE COURT: IT IS IN YOUR HANDS TO GET RID OF THIS SHAME

 

The call to stop ISIS was a humanitarian duty. Are you blaming me for doing this? This case shows who is for ISIS and who is against it, as long as they are accused. This is how it will go down in history. If it is honor, if you have an attitude towards moral values; You will drop these issues as subjects of blame. Sebahat, Selahattin, Gültan, Figen, Sebahat... These did not cause people to die. They have never even flicked anyone in their lives. There is no violence even in the families of people here. We grew up virtuous like this. History will say, 'That court panel stood by ISIS.' I am calling out to the government from here; From morning to night, you say 'End ISIS'. I am being tried for stopping ISIS, why are you judging me? The news was published in ANF in 2014, but there is no case or investigation, no one knows about it. When the statement that we would make a counter move came from the palace, Selahattin and Figen gathered us and put us in them, just as the arrest warrant was given for the president.

 

It's up to you to get rid of this embarrassment. We are faced with an appointed delegation, nothing was done in accordance with the law, Selahattin presented it in detail in his declaration, decisions were made before you, people applauded for execution. Everyone will save themselves, but you will not be able to save yourself because you signed this decision. Süleyman Soylu said, 'I said there were terrorists in Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality due to politics', but one day Erdoğan may say that he did something like that too. Are you with ISIS? Or will you judge those who defend humanity against ISIS? Decide this, it is your political responsibility. Are we afraid of the threat of punishment? We are not afraid; this is my responsibility. I stood by the true, the just, the good and the beautiful. I did not take part in the mistake, I did not try to make up any other cover for it. You are also faced with this.”

 

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GAZA, LET'S TALK A LITTLE ABOUT SUR

 

While all this is in the middle, there is a photo of Gültan Kışanak participating in the 'lift the curfew' march. Our representatives went to the courthouse to explain all our troubles. I also spoke to the press in front of the courthouse to explain our troubles. These are all my fault. There is no trial on that side, Gültan Kışanak should be tried for participating in the march and giving a statement to the press. In those days, I didn't have the strength to talk anyway. If I could talk, I would talk. I swallowed to get a civilian out. The population of Sur had increased from 55 thousand to 3 thousand, and those people were still under blockade. We are talking about Gaza today, right? Let's talk about Sur a little bit to make it believable. At minus 8 degrees, we gathered all the municipality employees and started to worry about helping people street by street. This is a human duty and no one can judge me for it. Those who committed crimes are obvious. Judge them. You cannot judge the voice of conscience. You will not be able to judge me, none of you will be able to silence me. I live to remain human. To be human, you need to have a conscience. No threat of punishment can silence the voice of my conscience. The people there resisted for a piece of bread, they resisted not to die. No bread, no water. There is gunshot and bomb sound. These people cried out.

 

IS IT TIME TO END THE TRAGEDY?

 

Let me remind you of Erdoğan's words, ‘We are in a war.’ This is also his name in legal literature. It is accepted that what is happening is not an ordinary violence, terrorism and a fight against it. Regarding this, the places we call 'war' and 'resistance' in the Parliament are underlined. The context of the conversations is not considered. Isn't it time to put an end to this tragedy? Isn't it unconscionable to place such a heavy burden on young people who have thousands of dreams for life? Why can't politics find a way? Because you are judging politics. You are judging solution proposals and demands for peace. If it continues like this; This country cannot solve their issues. At this point, the economy went bankrupt. There are global economic fluctuations involved, but essentially 12 settlements were destroyed. Isn't this an economic loss? Erdoğan says, 'We are paying the price for the geopolitical position of our geography.' They squandered the resources of this country; The most important resource was peace and tranquility. 

 

MEETINGS STARTED BETWEEN MR ÖCALAN AND THE STATE

 

A meeting had begun between the PKK and the government. Negotiations between Mr. Öcalan and the state had begun. In this process, women came together under the name of the women's freedom struggle and got involved in the solution process. We wanted to get involved to see what our issues are. We held thousands of meetings on how to achieve gender equality from a perspective. We went everywhere. As a result of these efforts, Ceylan Bağrıyanık was included in the delegation that went to İmralı. While wise people were being established, we fought to have more women. As a result of our struggle, women were included in the delegation of wise people. Now you bring all of these before us as crimes, but they are not crimes. I blame those who wasted the solution process. 

 

There are several allegations that I attended some events regarding Mr. Öcalan and the hunger strikes in 2012. We heard on television that not only we but also the state accepted that Öcalan had a mission for peace and that he had a will for a solution. There is a possibility for a solution, for peace. This is how Mr. Öcalan described his role. Even today, I remember the speech Mr. Öcalan made when leaving Syria. He said: ‘I'm going to Europe because I want to solve the issue. I am a person of this land. My mission is peace, if you want to contribute to this issue, I am here.’ He has been explaining and contributing to peace ever since. The state also knows this.

 

OPEN THE GATE OF IMRALI

 

No, I attended the march on February 15, no, I went to the ceremony in Halfeti for Öcalan's birthday. Hey government, in 2013, Hakan Fidan, who is currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs, brought Mr. Öcalan's letter. Sırrı Süreyya Önder also studied in Diyarbakır. This is called making up a crime. These are legitimate, democratic demands for peace. Now there are hunger strikes again so that the gates of Imrali can be opened. This social demand increased in 2012. Sadullah Ergin called me and said: 'We received a letter from Öcalan, we gave it to his brother. End these hunger strikes.' Minister of Internal Affairs at the time. The struggle for peace does not change according to the political atmosphere. It is a matter of principle for women. According to the political conjuncture, 'I want to arrest Kışanak and appoint a trustee'. Impossible! I'm at the same point now as I was in 2013.

 

THIS ISSUE HAS TWO DIMENSIONS

 

This issue has two dimensions. In the first dimension, which is related to armed conflict, the state also knows that Öcalan has the power to stop the bloodshed. Open the gate of İmralı to stop the bloodshed. Do not erode to gain votes during election time. We can talk and solve it politically for the children of this country. There are also programs that Öcalan presented to the government as a political program regarding the solution. It is said: 'A war broke out in Syria, and the organization disrupted the process when it saw the opportunities there.' The courtroom is not the place to discuss this. Let's establish a commission and speak in front of civil society.

 

‘LET’S SOLVE IT’

 

As a woman who has spent her life reading, writing and struggling, I say, 'The Kurdish issue in Syria cannot be solved unless the Kurdish issue in Turkey is solved.' We can build a bridge of peace. While the imperialists abandoned classical colonialism and left this geography; They fragmented the Kurdish issue and left it as a trouble for us in this geography. If Turkey solves this issue, the issues in Iraq and Syria will be solved. Since we cannot solve the issues here, we perceive that place as a threat. Everyone should envy us, let's solve it. We should be a country that sets an example for peace, not one that incites war. What will save this country is peace and solution. When this is achieved in this country, see how the geopolitical position turns into an advantage. May our path be open, may our path be peaceful."