Pervin Buldan: A Voice for Kurdish Rights in Turkey

Pervin Buldan is a prominent Turkish politician of Kurdish origin, known for her long-standing advocacy for Kurdish rights and her leadership within various pro-Kurdish political parties. Her career has been marked by both political successes and persistent challenges, reflecting the complexities of Kurdish politics in Turkey.

Born in Hakkari, a predominantly Kurdish province in southeastern Turkey, Buldan’s personal history is deeply intertwined with the Kurdish struggle. Her husband, Savaş Buldan, a businessman, was assassinated in 1994, a period marked by widespread human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings in the region, particularly targeting Kurds suspected of supporting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). This personal tragedy propelled her into activism and politics.

Buldan became actively involved in human rights organizations and worked to document the experiences of victims of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. She played a key role in establishing and leading organizations dedicated to supporting the families of victims. This work brought her into the political arena, and she entered parliament in 2007 as an independent candidate supported by the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP). She has since been re-elected several times, representing various iterations of pro-Kurdish parties.

Throughout her parliamentary career, Buldan has been a vocal advocate for a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish issue. She has consistently called for dialogue between the Turkish state and Kurdish representatives, including the PKK, to address the underlying causes of the conflict. She has also pushed for greater cultural and political rights for Kurds, including the right to education in the Kurdish language and increased regional autonomy.

Buldan served as co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), a left-wing, pro-Kurdish party that has become a significant force in Turkish politics. As co-chair, she played a crucial role in shaping the party’s platform and strategy. The HDP has consistently faced significant challenges, including legal pressures, arrests of its members and leaders, and accusations of being linked to the PKK. Despite these obstacles, the party has consistently garnered significant electoral support, particularly in Kurdish-majority regions.

Pervin Buldan’s political career has been characterized by both resilience and vulnerability. She has faced numerous investigations and prosecutions related to her political activities and statements. These legal challenges reflect the ongoing tension between the Turkish state’s concerns about Kurdish separatism and the Kurdish community’s demands for greater recognition and rights. Despite these challenges, Buldan remains a prominent and influential figure in Turkish politics, continuing to advocate for a peaceful and democratic resolution to the Kurdish issue.