In Kurdistan a war of love is being waged

In Kurdistan, a war of love is being waged, reviving thousands of years of hopes and passions. What does this signify? It means approaching everything with profound affection and love, starting with love for our country, our people, our history, our mountains, our stones—love for everything that makes us who we are.

Approaching our people with the utmost love and longing becomes essential due to millennia of divisiveness. It also implies that men and women should treat each other with respect and love, replacing betrayals, degradation, the absence of meaningful connections, and a history devoid of anything beyond crude sexuality in relationships. Women have endured immense suffering, and men have lost their true essence. The excuse of honor has been misused to commit dishonorable acts to the fullest. These issues are now being shattered and overcome, resulting in a precious approach—genuine love, respect, and true strength propelling us forward on the path of love. This is the essence of the matter for consideration, include from a scientific perspective. There is no need to deceive ourselves by playing games with it, turning it upside down, and saying, “I couldn’t bear it, I couldn’t solve it, I was overwhelmed.” Especially in the context of forming an army, indulging in such triviality can sometimes cost one’s life.

Discrediting and degrading love and the approaches that may arise from it is immoral, at least from a revolutionary standpoint. Discussing traditions, denialism, and superficiality, both morally and revolutionarily, when strictly contemplating the army, are crimes by statute, leading to prosecution. Moreover, it is unnecessary. Nothing uplifting arises from it. My love is reserved for those who advance the struggle, the organization, patriotism, and freedom. Why should I love, show interest in, or cherish anyone or anything that distances me from the party and the struggle? Whether they are former husbands/partners or new ones, whether you have attachments or not, regardless of their significance to us, we must be capable of instantly casting them aside if they do not serve the cause of the struggle, organization, and the party. We uphold fundamental values as a whole, and we should be able to discard anyone who does not contribute to the struggle, regardless of personal connections.

Abdullah Öcalan, 20 October 1993