HÜDA PAR (Free Cause Party) Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu spoke to Ilke News Agency after he attended a workshop titled "What Do the Kurds Want?" which was held in Ankara on Saturday.

“Maybe, it is possible to simply explain it in a sentence. Kurds want justice and sincerity. Kurds want a real brotherhood but not just in name only. They do not want to hear rhetorical statements about brotherhood anymore but they expect some concrete steps to be taken in accordance with what brotherhood requires,” Yapıcıoğlu said.

“If the requirements of the brotherhood are fulfilled, a real brotherhood will be established between Kurds and Turks,” Yapıcıoğlu noted.

“Turks and Kurds have so many common values”

Yapıcıoğlu went on to say: “It is said that the period of denial and assimilation of Kurdish identity has passed, but in fact, there are serious concerns that backward steps have been taken in this regard in some areas. For example, Kurds used to be mentioned in textbooks in the previous years among the nations that accepted Islam. Although the other parts of the sentence remained as it was in the textbooks printed later, only the name of the Kurds was removed from the text. Allah the Almighty has given everybody their rights. We believe that this problem will be solved if those rights are recognized neither more nor less, but equally for everyone. This is the solution. Turks and Kurds have so many common cultural values. Reuniting around those common values would perhaps be the most appropriate step for solving the problems.”

"If peace is desired in the country, justice must be established"

Yapıcıoğlu underlined that it is the requirement for justice to give everybody their rights, adding: Justice is not against anyone. Perhaps some people feeblemindedly think that when justice is served, there will be a result against them, but in fact, it is not. If the weakest person in a society cannot demand his right from the strongest without fear, without hesitation, and if this demand is not met, that is, if he cannot get his right, then no one in that society should expect peace.”

"Maybe there is nothing left under the sun that is not being talked about regarding the Kurdish issue"

Regarding to the demands of the Kurdish people, Yapıcıoğlu said: “Actually, the question of “what do the Kurds want?” has been asked a lot. Maybe there is nothing left unspoken about this issue under the sun. It is clear what they demand. We have said before; If there really is a political will for a solution to fulfill the demands of the Kurds, the rulers of the country, namely the government, can announce a timetable for a solution, and a list of what needs to be done. I think such steps would reassure the people.” (ILKHA)