The Press Center of the People's Defence Forces (HPG) announced the full identity of a guerrilla fighter who was martyred in attacks by Turkey in the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) last week. According to a statement issued by the HPG press centre on Saturday, HPG guerrilla Mazlum Dêrşewî (Osman Üzen), from Şırnak province, was initially seriously injured on 9 February during artillery attacks by the Turkish army on guerrilla positions and tunnels in the Zap, before dying a short time later.

The ID details of the fallen guerrilla fighter are as follows:

Nom de Guerre: Mazlum Dêrşewî First-Last Name: Osman Üzen Birthplace: Şirnak Mother's-Father's Name: Sultan – Ali Date and Place of Martyrdom: 9 February 2023 / Zap

"His loss and the Turkish state's continued attacks despite the devastating earthquake are symbolic of the AKP/MHP regime's fascist blindness, which bursts forth with maximum force even in times of humanitarian catastrophe. The ideology of anti-Kurdish racism also runs regardless of our humanitarian decision to renounce all combat operations and move to defensive positions. Even in the midst of a disaster of this magnitude, this fascist regime is pumping the people's resources into war instead of giving them back to the people," stated the HPG.

Mazlum Dêrşewî grew up in the resistance stronghold of Cizîra Botan in Şırnak and belonged to the Dêrşewî tribe. His childhood was marked by his family's attachment to the Kurdish liberation struggle and the oppression of the Turkish state. He was an activist in the youth movement and took part in the uprisings against state power. He was also arrested in the process, which only increased his anger against the repression in Kurdistan.

Under the impression of losses of family members in the war against the guerrillas and the large-scale attack of the terrorist organisation "Islamic State" (ISIS) on Kobanê in Western Kurdistan (Northern Syria) supported by Turkey, Mazlum Dêrşewî decided to take to the mountains in 2014. He completed a series of ideological and military programmes and learned practical experience in combat. He deepened the expertise he gained during this time, especially in the field of semi-automatic and automatic weapons, and spent time in various regions of the Medya Defense Zones. In 2019, he volunteered for deployment in the heavily contested Zap and participated in almost all guerrilla offensives launched in defence of the region by the HPG and the YJA Star (Free Women's Troops). Since Turkey escalated the war and invasions in South Kurdistan in 2021, he has been on the front line of operations.

HPG expressed their condolences to the family and the Kurdish public on the loss of Mazlum Dêrşewî, stating: "We promise to follow the path of our comrade and to realise the ideal of our martyrs, a liberated Kurdistan. Until this goal has been achieved, our resistance will continue unabated."