Intellectuals support Zana remarks in declaration for peace

The declaration, which was posted online on Monday, was put together by the Denge Demokrat group, and its release comes one week after influential Kurdish politician Leyla Zana met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to discuss a peaceful settlement to Turkey's decades-old Kurdish question.

Individuals that signed the declaration include Akın Özçer, Cevdet Akbay, Cemal Uşşak, Tarık Çelenk, Hakan Tahmaz, Halil Berktay, Hayko Bağdat, Osman Cen, Orhan Miroğlu and members of the pro-democracy Young Civilians movement.

Turan Sarıtemur, a spokesperson for the Denge Demokrat group, said Zana, who angered the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its supporters in remarks that suggested her belief that only Erdoğan can solve the Kurdish question, was the voice of the silent majority of Kurds. Zana's meeting had come shortly after her remarks about Erdoğan's possible role in resolving the conflict.

Zana was harshly criticized by PKK supporters as well as the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and affiliated civil society groups.

The declaration said: “No war will go on forever. Peace will certainly come to this land. It is time for that day to arrive. We support Zana's efforts for a political solution and peace.”

Sarıtemur, a Kurdish intellectual, said they wanted to highlight the words of anyone who is calling for peace. “The process that was started by Leyla Zana with the prime minister is a positive development, and it should be supported. Because of this need, we are interested in what has been said, rather than her personality. Because this is the voice of the silent majority and common sense,” he said.