The March Of Silent Shoes
28 September 2004
Şanlıurfa, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Park
Nazire Dedeman
Founder President of Umut Foundation
Speech Text
Dear Citiziens od Şanlıurfa
We decided to establish Umut Foundation in 1993. Our aim was to our ensure our future youth chose peaceful means to solve disputes, by getting them to accept rule of law. Our justifications were right and we had to succeed. In A length of time we realized that Umut Foundation has continued to its works alone by being the only non-governmental organization which deals with individual disarming. Although our people are victimized with arms nobody knows the damage of individual arming to society. Our people, particularly our women are maimed and killed with firearms. The bad side of the issue is that the killed are killed by their relatives, acquaintances, sometimes their fathers, sons, uncles and neighbours. However, there is no fair reason for this murder in the world. Our customs should never allow ordering people to kill.
There will definitely be disputes in our society life and our family lives. Some people may make a mistake. There is a law for this. The rule of law should surely be adopted and it should be carried out. If we are state of law and we believe in democracy, we should not behave in ways we dont like to others. Modernity requires this.
Compromise and tolerance are the terms we have to believe in. The voices of arms dont stop and tears are falling silently. Could there be any situation that incurs more suffering than arming of people who live in the same society, despite security guards? Arming which does not fit in with any modern life is increasing more and more. The reflection of individual arming as a problem for our society, causing the loss of approximately 3000 human lives in a year in acts of murder, accidental death and suicide through firearms.
Last week Şanlıurfa lost two young people and an unborn child who was five moths, sinless in his mothers place in an honour killing. One of them was a young lady and died, the other one is the baby in her womb and died, and it was the man of family who killed them. Sanlıurfa lost three people from one of family. Şanlıurfa lost. Customs do not order killing. Customs are for protecting human rights, making people happy, bringing wealth to society. Nobody has a right to kill anybody. Even in our country there is no death penalty for criminals, nobody has the right to pass it and end to anybodys life. Nobody has the right to be equal with law. Law took place of customs. Rejecting or denying this takes our country at least a hundred years back.
Today we have gathered here to protest silently against guns in the hands of individuals. The scream inside of us is rebelling against custom killing and blood feud. I know and speak as a Mother whose child was killed by a blind bullet. There is no honour, pride, custom, case as esteemed/valuable as ones life. The mothers and women have to deal with this pain and who cannot benefit from human rights know this the best.
We will leave our shoes on the red carpet after our losses. We will put pictures of our losses on blood coloured red carpet which symbolizes the violence that we curse. Society must apologize from them and their families. While we are doing this we should not forget to be tolerant and compromise.
Compromising and being tolerant are very difficult. Yet our citizens know how to succeed in. I am especially speaking to women. Look after your children, be against arms and say no to murder.
My last message is to all our citizens from Edirne to Ardahan in front of the citizens of Şanlıurfa: Do not shoot off in wedding fests, matches and celebrations. Clapping is enough. Dance in wedding fests, show your cheers this way. Participating in wedding fests with a gun means disrespect to the bride and the son-in-law. Do not let those who want to cast a shadow on your fests and celebrations do so with their guns.
Which parent, sister or brother wants their children or sister/brother to be murdered or killed?
There may be hostilities in a society. There may be conflict of interests. But the winning of a victory with the gun is not a victory. It is trick. It does not befit to anybodys state. Despotism is a curse in societies hearts. It is crime in law.
The real power is to manage compromise. The real cheer is to know clapping strongly. Honour to human lives. You can only find real values in that way.
I am embracing you with love and regards.
To future with full of hope...