The remains of artist Ayşe Şan, who passed away in Izmir on 18 December 1996, were brought to Amed (Diyarbakır) in accordance with her final will, 29 years after her death. A burial ceremony was held in Yeniköy Cemetery in the  Bağlar (Rezan) district, where Ayşe Şan was finally laid to rest. The funeral was attended by members of parliament from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), co-mayors, intellectuals, writers, representatives of various institutions and organizations, her family, and many mourners.

Throughout the ceremony, the slogan "Jin jiyan azadî" (Woman, life, freedom) was frequently chanted. Flowers were placed on Ayşe Şan’s grave, and her songs were performed afterward, creating an emotional and powerful atmosphere of remembrance.

Ayşe Şan’s son, Murat Kerse, stated that from this moment on, his mother now belongs to the Kurdish people.

A close family member, Yüksel Avşar, shared his emotions, saying, “I am not well at this moment. I thank everyone who contributed, but I do not want to claim this for myself or anyone else. This was the will of the Kurdish people. I am sure the Kurdish people will protect her as they make their own conscience. She endured many exiles, suffered great pain.”

Zinê Dinçer, a member of the Kurdish Women’s Union Platform, also spoke at the ceremony, saying, “We thank the Amed Metropolitan Municipality. They brought Ayşe Şan back to her homeland. She now belongs to the Kurdish people. Every Kurd is known by their language and culture, Ayşe Şan is known in the same way.”

Serra Bucak, Co-Mayor of Amed Metropolitan Municipality, also spoke at the ceremony and said, “Today is both historic and honorable for us. Since 2007, many have worked to make this moment possible. In 2025, the daughter of Amed, a Kurdish singer, returns home. I want to thank the Kurdish Women’s Union Platform for making this happen. Today, Ayşe Şan is at home, in her homeland, in her mother’s land, resting beside her mother.”

Doğan Hatun, Co-Mayor of Amed Metropolitan Municipality, and Serhat Eren, MP for Amed from the DEM Party, also emphasized that Ayşe Şan had returned to her homeland. They affirmed their ongoing commitment to bringing back all those who have been exiled from their homeland.

Ayşe Şan

Originally from Erzurum (Erzirom) and born in Amed in 1938 as the eldest child of a family of 6 people (3 girls and 1 boy), Ayşe Şan encountered many difficulties to expressing her talent for singing because of her traditional family.

Ayşe Şan started her artistic journey with a cassette she released at the age of 15. She died due to cancer in Izmir on 18 January 1996, and left behind a valuable and great artistic legacy to new generations.