IZMIR - Hediye Korkut, Mother for Peace, who spent 28 years of her life in the struggle for peace despite the pressure and detentions, said: "Blood is still flowing in these lands. If wanting peace is a crime, I will continue to commit this crime."

 

Millions of people had to migrate to western cities due to the oppression policies implemented in Kurdistan throughout the history of the Republic. While the cities of Kurdistan always ranked first in unemployment statistics, the first addresses of immigration were Istanbul and Izmir. However, the political struggle of the Kurds continued in the cities to which they migrated. Kurdish mothers, especially those struggling for peace against war, expanded the struggle under the umbrella of the Mothers for Peace Initiative, which they founded in 1996.

 

One of the mothers taking part in this initiative, which was also established in Izmir, is Hediye Korkut, who was born in 1963 in Dibikê village of Mêrdîn's Nisêbîn (Nusaybin) district. Korkut, who had to immigrate to Izmir with her family when she was only 15 years old due to economic reasons, started her political struggle with the People's Labor Party (HEP), which was founded on June 7, 1990. Continuing her struggle in every aspect of life to stop the war, Korkut took part in the Mothers for Peace Initiative, which was established in 1996 against the increase in casualties in the war that became more violent in Kurdistan.

 

SHE WAS DETAINED 3 TIMES

 

Korkut has been detained 3 times while fighting for peace since the 1990s. Korkut, who was first detained together with her husband Ömer Korkut in 1994, was released, while her husband was detained for 11 months. Korkut's house was raided on March 16, 2023, citing the actions and events she participated in.

 

After she released, Korkut was detained and released again during the "Humanity March against the Use of Chemical Weapons" action in Istanbul Taksim on November 6, 2023.

 

HER POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

 

Korkut, who carried out her struggle within The Mothers for Peace Initiative, also took part in active politics. Korkut served as the People's Democratic Party (HDP) Izmir provincial director in 2021, then became the Izmir Deputy candidate of the Greens and Left Future Party (Green Left Party) in the May 2023 elections. Korkut currently serves as the Izmir provincial director of the People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party).

 

'I GO TO MY HOMETOWN WHILE CRYING'

 

Speaking about peace and political struggle, Korkut said that it was sad to live in other lands even though she was born in her own land. Stating that she did not want to die far from her hometown, Korkut said: “We could not live properly in our own land. There is always a longing within us to live in our own land. Sometimes I go to my hometown for a month or two a year. And then I go back while crying."

 

THE WHITE HEADSCARF STRUGGLE

 

Reminding that when they first came to Izmir, they were constantly excluded because they wore white headscarves, Korkut said: “I loved my white headscarf very much. We were afraid to wear white headscarves when we went out. People made fun of us when we wore it. We didn't know Turkish, but we understood from their facial expressions that they were making fun of us. When we first came to Izmir, there were not many Kurds. There were students and young people. They told us that the party was established. That's when HEP was established. I have been continuing my political activities since then."

 

'THE MOTHERS CAN BRING PEACE'

 

Stating that she decided to become a Mother for Peace so that "people would not die, the war would end", Korkut explained the process as follows: "At that time, mothers' children were being arrested and killed. So I decided to become a Mother for Peace to stop the bloodshed. No one can achieve success from the tears shed by mothers. We became mothers of peace to prevent bloodshed, but blood is still flowing in these lands. If wanting peace, wanting no bloodshed, people not dying is a crime, I will continue to commit this crime. I wish military mothers would come and lend a hand to us. Mothers understand mothers' problems. If we walked hand in hand, maybe we could stop this war. This way our young people would not die. It is necessary to stand against anyone who is oppressed."

 

'I WILL SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE FIGHTING FOR PEACE'

 

Noting that she got to know herself after she became a Mother for Peace, Korkut said: “Kurdish women got to know themselves. They do not submit to oppression. I want women to stand up against oppression and force and not bow down. I will go wherever, no matter what, for peace. As a Kurdish mother, we will show this stance everywhere. I have been fighting this struggle until this age. I will spend the rest of my life fighting for peace."