The vigil launched in Nisêbîn (Nusaybin) district of Mêrdîn (Mardin) against the attacks of Turkey and the Syrian National Army (SNA) against North and East Syria is on its 19th day. The vigil, which is organized at a point bordering the city of Qamishlo in North and East Syria, attracts mass participation from different cities every day.

 

'WE NEED PEACE'

 

Mele (imam) Abdulaziz Bilgin, one of the participants of the vigil, reacted to the attacks and said that Kurds have been struggling for peace for many years. "We need peace more than eating, drinking and the air we breathe. As you can see here, 'peace' is written on the aprons people wear. We have no other wish but peace," he said. 

 

Drawing attention to the meeting of the DEM Party delegation with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı Type F High Security Closed Prison, Bilgin emphasised that the government should not approach the process in line with its interests. "Kurds have paid a heavy price in their struggle for peace and freedom and therefore they deserve peace more than anyone else," Bilgin said.

 

'IF PEACE PREVAILS, THE COUNTRY WILL DEVELOP'

 

Turkey has a bad record in terms of human rights said Bilgin and added: "If peace and democracy prevail, Turkey will develop. But Turkey spends all its economic resources on war. Pensioners and minimum wage earners are crying out that they cannot make a living. The reason for this is the Kurdish bloodshed and this war. In order for Turkey's economy to reach a very good point, it should spend its resources on its own citizens instead of spending them on ISIS, Al-Nusra and HTS. On the one hand, it spends on gangs, on the other hand it says that it does not accept terrorists. In short, like a stick in the mud, you get dirty no matter where you hold it. Turkish politics is also like this. But our hope is that this process is sincere and realistic."