In a written statement, Mesopotamian Democratic Culture and Arts Movement in Europe (TEV-ÇAND Europe) said: “March is a month filled with the vitality and greatness of the Kurdish people's struggle for democracy and freedom. It includes Newroz, which symbolizes a free life, and also the Week of Heroism, during which we commemorate the martyrs who created this life. For the peoples of the world as well, it is a meaningful time marked by International Working Women’s Day on March 8 and World Theatre Day."

The statement continued: "27 March is celebrated each year as World Theatre Day. On this day, the role and significance of theatre in society is discussed more than ever. For us, the Kurdish people, March 27 carries a very different and profound meaning. The person who gave this day its special significance is Yekda Herekol (Erdoğan Kahraman). March 27, World Theatre Day, is also the day our comrade Yekda fell in martyrdom. As members of the Mesopotamian Democratic Culture and Arts Movement living in Europe, we commemorate all our comrades who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom—especially our fellow fallen artist comrades—with deep respect and gratitude, through the memory of Martyr Yekda Herekol."

The statement continued: "On 27 March 2004, in the city of Aleppo, Syria, Martyr Yekda Herekol set his body on fire in protest against the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan and the attacks targeting our people in Rojava, as well as the silence and indifference surrounding these assaults. With this act, he expressed the stance of a revolutionary artist. Martyr Yekda was the artistic embodiment of the collective, society-oriented stance forged through the Kurdish people's struggle for freedom. Through his action on World Theatre Day, he became one of the symbols of the revolutionary line that defines all our cultural and artistic work. For this reason, as cultural workers and artists of a democratic society, it is our responsibility to understand, preserve, and pass on to future generations the legacy and message Heval Yekda left us."

The statement added: "Heval Yekda made it clear that he wanted to be understood. In the letter he left behind, he directly addressed Kurdish artists. He called on artists and intellectuals to take responsibility. 'We are living through a very difficult, yet glorious and magnificent time. It is a period that requires us to embrace our work with greater passion and devotion than ever before, as we face great responsibilities and services through immense sacrifice and effort,' wrote Heval Yekda. He continued, 'Above all, we must understand that the success of this process and the beginning of great enlightenment depend primarily on the intellectuals and artists having the right perspective and attitude. The first condition for this is to love people and be passionately attached to them. It is to be serious. Especially when it comes to art and people’s artists, it requires creating art with a thousand times more enthusiasm, sensitivity, care, and above all, with a deep ethical stance and discipline, in the service of enlightenment. The action I am about to take is a call for comrades to take their responsibilities seriously, an apology to our people, and a salute to the Imrali Freedom Resistance of Öcalan, as well as to the martyrs of Qamishlo and Afrin (Efrîn).' And with these words, he carried out his powerful and meaningful action."

The statement underlined that "theatre, though sustained by a small community, reflects life. For society, theatre is a practice of freedom, equality, and democratization. The language of theatre in a democratic society is always political. It cannot remain distant from society, nor can it be approached in isolation from it. A socially engaged theatre cannot operate without defending the people. For this reason, our theatre must shape itself as a form of cultural resistance against cultural genocide and play a role in enlightening the people.

On the occasion of World Theatre Day, we once again commemorate Martyr Yekda—who represents the essence of our cultural and artistic path—and through him, we also remember Martyr Sarya, Martyr Hevi, Martyr Rezan, Martyr Dagistan, Martyr Osman, Martyr Cuma Xelil (Bavê Teyar), all other fallen artist comrades, and all the martyrs of the freedom struggle. In honor of the meaning behind this day, we say: more theatre—against the materialism of capitalism that destroys both life and humanity. We call on all artists, especially theatre artists, to say no to cultural genocide and to preserve, uphold, and elevate the culture and art of a democratic society."