Page 111 - America's Failure to Perceive the PKK

The woman code-named Bese, who was active in the PKK during
this time of transition, says:

When I joined the PKK I was up in the mountains. I had a gun,
so I thought I was free. But as time passed, I realized this was
not freedom. Because I had no identity of my own. I could not
freely express my ideas or criticisms. When I wanted to leave the
organization, I was not able to do so. (2008) 30

The woman code-named Leyla says:

Very little was done in the name of women's freedom within the
PKK apart from symbolic and very superficial things. And what
was done in fact damaged women's freedom a bit more. Because
it was Öcalan, a man, who developed an ideology on behalf of

women, organized them and took and implemented all decisions.
I was personally free before joining the PKK. But in the PKK I
had and could have no opinions regarding today or tomorrow."
(2009) 31

Necati Alkan said the following in his book on the basis of his
observations and interviews:

109