News from the Revolution in Rojava and Wider Kurdistan

News from the Revolution in Rojava and Wider Kurdistan.

ens of thousands gathered today in Hakkari (Colemêrg) for the funeral of YPG commander Fazıl Kapalak (Kendal Dewran), who was killed defending the Kobanê Canton of Rojava from the ongoing ISIS assault of the region, says anarticle from DİHA carried in Özgür Gündem.

Kapalak, who was born in Hakkari, was killed on July 8th in the village of Ebu Sura in an ISIS bombing attack on a YPG checkpoint. His body was taken back from Kobanê to Hakkari, where it was retrieved from the Hakkari State Hospital by thousands of mourners. Kapalak’s coffin – draped in the Kurdish national colors – was then taken to the city’s Martyrs’ Cemetery accompanied by thousands carrying the flags of the YPG, PKK and KCK and pictures of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Mourners chanted slogans in support of the YPG and carried a large banner which read “The Youth To Rojava For The Defense Of Free Lands.”

Local BDP and HDP officials, members of MEYADER, TUAD-DER, Hakkari co-mayor Dilek Hatipoğlu, Yüksekova co-mayor Ruken Yetişkin, and Çukurca co-mayor Hilaş Durman also joined the procession

HDP and BDP officials took precautions as the procession, which closed traffic on the main road, passed in front of the Hakkari Public Security Headquarters. Once the procession arrived at the cemetery in the neighborhood of Sümbül Kapalak’s body was lowered into earth, after which prayers were offered and the Çerxa Şoreşê (Revolutionary March) was played. The mourners then observed a moment of silence.

Öcalan’s Message Was Received

The President of the MEYADER Hakkari Branch Ramazan Elmas, who spoke at the funeral, condemned ISIS terror attacks on Rojava. He told mourners that “the Kurdish Popular Leader Abdullah Öcalan told us that we needed to mobilize for Rojava in the notes from his meeting. Mr. Öcalan’s message says that ‘the entire Kurdish people should claim the martyrs in Rojava and the resistance in Kobanê.’ Our friend Kendal is now being laid to rest by more than forty thousand people. The people of Colemêrg have embraced their son. As long as we have brave and gallant friends like Kendal the Kurdish people will always remain on their feet and standing tall without losing the spirit of mobilization. We mourn are Kendals and we take from them the spirit of resistance.”

Elmas then spoke of the significance of the Rojava Revolution and the dangers it is currently facing, saying “the blood of our martyrs will not remain on the ground. We curse ISIS terror and those who feed it. We are in the month of Ramadan and we see as bright as day that these terrorists have nothing to do with Islam. It is clear who the real Muslims are.” Elmas then offered his condolences to Kapalak’s family and asked local merchants and tradesmen to keep their shop stores closed in respect for the loss.

Following the funeral thousands went to the headquarters of the provincial branch of the BDP, where a tent had been set up for mourners to offer condolences to relatives. Kapalak’s family will remain to accept condolences for three days.