Bêrîtan Elyakut/JINHA

AMED - In the Lice area of Kurdistan in Turkey, Turkish and Kurdish mothers have come together in an anti-war vigil. The women have put their lives on the line to stop clashes between the two sides.

Serious military attacks are ongoing in the rural area near the town of Lice, in Northern Kurdistan (in Turkey). In response, locals have started a "human shield" vigil. For two weeks now, residents have held a site between the two sides' positions, in the village of Hurê (Gömeç in Turkish). They are hoping that their presence as civilians will stop the clashes.

Women have come to the Lice vigil from as far away as the large Turkish city of Istanbul. One of them is 50-year-old Turkish woman Yasemin Kabadayı. Her son is now of age to enter military service. She has headed to the vigil because she can no longer stand to hear news of the deaths of young men like her son.

"We're worried, and we don't want to send our children to death," said Yasemin."Let this war end already. We can't take it. We don't want mothers to cry. Don't send our children to us wrapped in the flag."

Emine Kalkan, 57, also came to the village to join the vigil. She blamed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the war in the country. She said that she was against sending her son to his mandatory military service, although he is now of age.

"If [Erdoğan] wants to keep going with this war, let him send his own son to fight," said Emine.

(kt/mg/cm)