ŞIRNEX - Hezar Nerexî, co-chair of the Maxmur People’s Council, said the framework law has marked the beginning of a new process, stressing: “Whatever laws are passed, we will follow the calls made by our Leader and the Kurdish freedom movement.”

 

The draft law titled “Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration,” submitted to Parliament’s Justice Committee as part of the Peace and Democratic Society Process, has passed the committee. The bill is now expected to go before the General Assembly, where its passage would mark a major milestone in the process. Tens of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes in Kurdistan during the 1990s amid village burnings, repression and imposition of the village guard system. Many were driven into exile, relocating to Europe, Turkey’s major cities and the Kurdistan Region. Around 12,000 people live in Maxmur Camp, located in Iraq’s Mosul province, most of them having migrated from Şirnex and Colemêrg in response to policies of forced village evacuations and the imposition of the village guard system. Women and children make up the majority of the camp’s residents. The camp was placed under United Nations (UN) protection in 1998.

 

 

Hezar Nerexî, co-chair of the Maxmur People’s Council, spoke to our agency (MA) about the framework law and its potential implications for Maxmur Camp.

 

Hezar Nerexî stressed that assessing the framework law also requires looking at the past century and added: “With Kurdistan divided into four parts through various agreements, the Kurdish people’s identity, language and culture were denied. An entire people was subjected to attempts at erasure. Over the past century, the Kurds have faced numerous massacres and immense suffering. When we look at history and then at the present, it is clear that the Kurds have come this far at a great cost. The Kurds consistently resisted all massacres and genocidal campaigns. They have been betrayed many times. Over the past 50 years, the Kurdish freedom movement has turned this bleak history around through its struggle. Despite spending 27 years in prison, Leader Apo has continued to resist under severe isolation and has once again brought Turkey to the negotiating table. Even under intensified isolation, Leader Apo has never backed down. While Leader Apo has continued his resistance from prison, the Kurdish people have resisted wherever they have been.”

 

‘THE ISSUES CANNOT BE RESOLVED BY A SINGLE LAW’

 

Hezar Nerexî stressed that the framework law is being discussed as a result of heavy sacrifices made by the Kurdish people and added: “The framework law being discussed in Parliament today has emerged at a great cost. Leader Apo made a historic call on February 27, 2025, laying the foundations for what is happening today. Turkey now has been forced to embark on this process. Leader Apo has brought the Kurdish reality, which had long been buried and deliberately silenced, back to the table. Through the struggle waged by our Leader and the Kurdish freedom movement, the first tep on a journey of thousands of miles has now been taken. From this perspective, the framework law is a positive development despite its shortcomings. We speak of shortcomings because the issues that have persisted for a century cannot be resolved once and for all by a single law. This is only one step. The law will not resolve all of our issues, that is also a reality. From this point on, it is our collective responsibility to build on the struggle. The framework law has marked the beginning of a new process.”

 

‘INCOMPLETE BUT AN IMPORTANT STEP’

 

Hezar Nerexî stressed that the public expects the framework law to lay the groundwork for lasting peace and democratization and to ensure equality. She continued: “Once the framework law passes through Parliament and becomes law, we will closely monitor how it is implemented in practice. The law must ensure equality. This is what the struggle waged over the past 50 years has been about. If the rights of the Kurdish people had not been denied, there would have been no need for this struggle. If the Kurdish people had been free to live with their own identity and language, there would have been no need to initiate such a process. However, the draft law falls far short in this regard. It is incomplete, but it is an important step. The laws to be enacted should not be limited to this draft. Even those who have long been staunch opponents of the Kurdish freedom movement are now speaking about granting Leader Apo the 'right to hope.' Devlet Bahçeli has recognized the reality that Leader Apo is the key interlocutor in resolving the Kurdish issue through democratic means. It is imperative that the necessary amendments be made to address the shortcomings in the bill to be debated in Parliament.”

 

‘LEADER APO IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN CONVINCE THE PUBLIC’

 

Hezar Nerexî stressed the need for Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan to be physically freed, saying: “The doors of İmralı must be fully opened. Journalists and academics must be allowed to meet with our Leader. We expect this to happen as soon as possible. This is not simply a need, it is a necessity. Leader Apo is the only person who can convince the public. If the doors of Imralı are opened, Leader Apo can convince not only the Kurdish people but also the Turkish people.”

 

‘WE WILL FOLLOW OUR LEADER’S CALL’

 

Hezar Nerexî said that the people of Maxmur are part of the process, adding: “There has been a struggle lasting more than 30 years. We all left the lands where we were born but could not grow up, after enduring great oppression. What matters to us is our Leader. Whatever laws are passed, we will follow the calls made by our Leader and the Kurdish freedom movement. Our hopes and our thoughts are with our Leader. We are ready to do whatever our Leader asks of us. From the day we were first forced exile to this day, we have always acted in line with our Leader and the Kurdish freedom movement. We will do everything required of us in this process. As the people of Maxmur, we cannot say that we have secured our rights until our Leader is physically free.”

 

MA / Emrullah Acar