Speaking at the congress of the Mesopotamian Federation for Islamic Studies, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun said: “We want all the peoples of the Middle East to live together freely, in peace, security and harmony.”

The Mesopotamian Federation for Islamic Studies held its 1st Ordinary Congress at the Çand Amed Culture and Congress Centre. The congress was attended by Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun, Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Keskin Bayındır, co-mayors of district municipalities, as well as representatives of political parties and civil society organisations.

‘What is happening in the Middle East is plain to see’

In her address, Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun recalled that Islam emerged in the Middle East as a source of hope for peoples, but over time was turned into an instrument of power struggles. She continued:

“The Prophet Muhammad issued a call to all tribes through the Constitution of Medina. Most of those tribes today have states. The Arab peoples were fragmented among themselves and established around 24 different states. Those who used Islam as an instrument of authority within their own societies did not use it for peace, security and equality, but to become a hegemonic power. What is happening in the Middle East is plain to see; whether you look at history or at today, the picture is before our eyes.”

‘A peace process has begun for the peoples of the Middle East’

Stressing that Islam has historically been a line of resistance against oppression, Co-Mayor Hatun said:

“The core principles of reconciliation in Islam were directed against oppression. At that time, interests were concentrated in the hands of a few. Just as Islam began its resistance on certain principles then, a similar resistance exists in the Middle East today. Just as a resistance against oppression developed 1,500 years ago, a similar struggle continues in this geography today. If the solution then was the organisation of Islamic resistance, today this role has been taken up by Kurdish freedom organising. On this basis, a process of peace and freedom has begun for all the peoples of the Middle East. Whatever the standards the Prophet Muhammad set out for all peoples, the standards of the freedom movement are the same. When we place the Muhammadan standards alongside the standards of the freedom movement, it becomes clear that they are not far apart.”

‘The struggle against oppression begins wherever there is oppression’

Concluding her remarks, Co-Mayor Hatun said the struggle is grounded in taking a stand against oppression:

“Who are the oppressed peoples in the Middle East? Wherever someone is being crushed, wherever a language is being denied, the struggle begins there. The struggle is waged against those who ban languages, against aghas and beys who seize the people’s land and water. Wherever there is oppression, there has always been resistance. Patience and endurance are themselves a form of struggle. Islam says ‘patience and endurance’—that is, resist, so that peace, security and freedom may await you. We want all the peoples of the Middle East to live together freely, in peace and harmony, on our own lands. We want to drink our own water on our own lands. Our water is abundant; it is enough for the whole country. Our land is rich; it can feed us all. But when land and water are in the hands of a single power, oppression and injustice emerge. We are pursuing a cause of peace, security, freedom and equality for all peoples,” she said.