A people’s history is often shaped by moments that ignite a legacy of resistance, echoing like an oath passed from one generation to the next. For the Kurdish Freedom Movement, May 22, 2007 stands as one of those defining moments. On that day, Erdal Andok (Güven Akkuş) carried out a self-sacrificing action in Ulus, Ankara, offering his own body to the path of freedom. His act became a symbol of invincible will and the longing for liberation. Inspired by Zîlan’s legacy, Erdal’s action entered history as a manifesto of revenge against the fascism of the Turkish state, a warning to conspirators, and a rebellion against chauvinism, a declaration of a people’s determination to exist.

Erdal Andok was born in 1979 in Istanbul. His family came from the Koçgiri region, specifically the Zara district of Sivas. His father was Kurdish, and his mother was Turkish. They lived in an environment where Alevi culture was strong, Kurdish identity was not denied, but Turkish identity remained dominant. As a descendant of a family that played an active role in the 1919 Koçgiri Uprising, Erdal was raised in a household shaped by historical defiance against the system. This cultural and historical legacy played a crucial role in forming his worldview and revolutionary identity. From an early age, Erdal developed a sharp awareness of injustice and systemic oppression, which drew him toward ideological exploration in his youth.

His journey into revolutionary struggle accelerated after the Gazi Massacre in Istanbul’s Gazi neighborhood in 1995. The massacre, which took place on March 12, became a turning point that crystallized his opposition to the system and pushed him onto a more determined path of resistance. It also opened the door for his engagement with socialist movements in Turkey. Immersed in the ideological and practical frameworks of these movements, he soon began participating in various actions. This activism was interrupted in 1996 when he was arrested. He “fell into enemy hands” and spent two years in prison, at just 17.

Prison years and encounter with the PKK

The two years Erdal Andok spent in prison (1996–1998) marked a critical period in his ideological transformation. During this time, he was deeply influenced by the legacy of prominent figures in Turkey’s revolutionary movement, such as Deniz Gezmiş, Mahir Çayan, and Ibrahim Kaypakkaya. In prison, he encountered the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and began to connect the movement’s anti-system stance with the Kurdish people’s struggle for freedom. As he deepened his understanding of his own identity and the historical reality of the Kurdish people, he developed a strong affinity for the PKK’s ideology and methods of resistance. This period allowed him to ground his revolutionary identity within an organized framework.

Organizational work in Europe

Released from prison in 1998, Erdal left Turkey due to the ongoing atmosphere of repression and went abroad to Europe. Settling with relatives, he became involved in the PKK’s activities in Europe, further motivated by the patriotic environment around him. He played a leading role in the party’s youth work between 1998 and 2002. During this time, he was actively engaged in ideological education programs and youth organizing. However, Erdal felt that the work in Europe was not sufficient and was soon drawn to a more direct, militant form of struggle. This aspiration led him to join the mountains of Kurdistan in 2002.

The founding of TAK and its role

Erdal Andok joined the ranks of the People’s Defense Forces (HPG) in 2002 and quickly stood out for his discipline, commitment, and self-sacrifice during his time as a guerrilla. In every area he was assigned to, he distinguished himself through his achievements and demonstrated qualities of ideological and practical leadership. However, he grew increasingly dissatisfied with the existing methods of struggle and began searching for a more radical and results-driven line. This search eventually led him toward an organization focused on carrying out direct actions.

The year 2004 marked another turning point in Erdal Andok’s path of resistance. Together with a group of comrades who sought to develop a more uncompromising line of struggle, he took part in the founding of the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK). TAK emerged with the aim of carrying out direct and forceful actions in urban areas. As one of the founding members, Erdal played an active role in both structuring the organization and planning its operations.

The May 22, 2007 Ankara action

The poisoning of President Öcalan in Imrali Prison triggered widespread anger among the people of Kurdistan and the guerrilla forces. In response, Erdal Andok planned an action targeting the Turkish General Staff. He personally prepared the operation and traveled to Ankara to carry it out. However, during the attempt, he realized he was being followed. Without reaching his target, he carried out a self-sacrificing action on May 22, 2007, in Anafartalar, Ulus (Ankara), joining the caravan of martyrs.

His legacy and impact

Erdal Andok’s action became recorded as the first self-sacrificing operation by the TAK, and he is remembered as the first martyr of the organization. His act left a profound mark within both the PKK and TAK. His selflessness, ideological determination, and unwavering loyalty to President Öcalan became a source of inspiration for those who followed him. TAK vowed to carry forward the path he opened, pledging to uphold his legacy. Erdal’s struggle continues to be seen as a symbol of radical resistance for the ideals of freedom.