Kurdish struggle continues, with a smile and a shrug
After the AKP booked an
unexpected victory in Turkey’s elections, the country’s Kurdish
population looks ahead, determined to continue the struggle.
unexpected victory in Turkey’s elections, the country’s Kurdish
population looks ahead, determined to continue the struggle.
This article was originally written for teleSUR English. Photo by Aris Messinis.
Just
days before last week’s elections in Turkey, the people of the small
village of Kocaköy, at an hour’s drive from Diyarbakir, had gathered to
commemorate the death of one of their sons. Renaz Karaz had been his nom de guerre,
but his mother remembered him as Muhammed. He was only 21 years old
when he died on October 30, 2014, in Kobane, where he was helping with
the defense of the town against attacks by the so-called Islamic State
(IS).
days before last week’s elections in Turkey, the people of the small
village of Kocaköy, at an hour’s drive from Diyarbakir, had gathered to
commemorate the death of one of their sons. Renaz Karaz had been his nom de guerre,
but his mother remembered him as Muhammed. He was only 21 years old
when he died on October 30, 2014, in Kobane, where he was helping with
the defense of the town against attacks by the so-called Islamic State
(IS).
Muhammed’s mother, Rukiye Şık,
walks around shaking hands, kissing cheeks and providing comfort to her
guests. There’s a sparkle in her eyes, and her face is beautified by a
smile that only sometimes disappears. It’s hard to understand how
someone who has endured such a loss can still find the power to comfort
those around her.
walks around shaking hands, kissing cheeks and providing comfort to her
guests. There’s a sparkle in her eyes, and her face is beautified by a
smile that only sometimes disappears. It’s hard to understand how
someone who has endured such a loss can still find the power to comfort
those around her.
