The People's Defense Forces (HPG) press center reported that HPG fighter Mîraz Serhed died in a Turkish attack on the Medya Defense Zones in October 2022. On the anniversary of Mîraz Serhed's death, HPG expressed its condolences in particular to the family and people of Serhad and the people of Kurdistan.

Mîraz Serhed was born in the province of Ağrı (Agirî) and belonged to the Heyderan tribe. His family has deep roots in the Kurdish resistance, and his ancestors were involved in the Tevgera Azadî resistance from the early 20th century. The family played a leading role in the uprisings in the Serhad region and was later forcibly relocated to Afyon. When the third Agirî uprising broke out in 1930, the family returned to take part in it. After the uprising was suppressed, the family was exiled to Tekirdağ. However, after four years, he returned to Agirî and settled in Panos (Patnos). With this insurgent tradition, it is not surprising that the family also took part in the PKK's Kurdish freedom struggle.

Nom de Guerre: Mîraz Serhed

 First and last name: Celal Kaya

 Place of birth: Ağrı

 Names of mother and father: Kudret – Salih

 Date & place of martyrdom: October 2022 Medya Defense Zones

HPG said: "Mîraz Ibrahim grew up in a patriotic environment. When his cousin Dilager (Mecit Çelik) joined the guerrillas in 1989, he became more familiar with the freedom struggle. When Dilager died in battle in Tendurek in 1994, Mîraz Ibrahim decided to take part in the fight even more. He took part in riots, demonstrations and social organizing work. At the same time, his commitment was inspired by the singer and revolutionary Hozan Serhad, who came from the same city as him. The abduction of Abdullah Öcalan in 1999 and the death of Hozan Serhad in the same year deepened his search for effective ways to become even more involved in the freedom struggle. During this time, he studied sociology at Trakya University. At the same time, he was involved in the Kurdish youth movement. Due to a dispute with fascists, he had to leave the university in 2003 and took up various precarious wage jobs. Nevertheless, he continued to work in the youth movement and as a guerrilla militia member."

Fight in the metropolises

The HPG continued: "Mîraz Serhed realized that without a fight there would be no free Kurdistan, and so he joined the guerrillas in 2011. There he quickly showed his great potential as a fighter and activist. That's why, after his training, he was sent to the Turkish metropolises and fought against the AKP-MHP regime there for three years. He was extremely successful in his revolutionary work. He successfully carried out many revolutionary actions, but was never discovered by the enemy. Our comrade Mîraz achieved important results through his diligence, his thirst for knowledge, his collective experience, his precision, his high adaptability, his boundless courage and his activity."

Defending the Rojava Revolution

With the attacks on Rojava by ISIS and the Turkish state, Mîraz Serhed moved to Northern Syria to actively participate in the defense of the region. He was at the forefront of many offensives. His left leg was seriously injured and paralyzed in an ISIS car bomb attack. After surgery, he immediately returned to combat despite the risks for his health. He took on important responsibilities and made major contributions.

Mîraz Serhed returned to the Medya Defense Zones. In 2019, he was seriously injured in a training accident. But that didn't stop him from continuing his activity. His cousin Rênas Serhed (Usrafil Dursun) died in Amed in 2018, and his cousin Güven Doza (Cansel Dursun) died as a leading commander in the Girê Amêdî resistance area in 2022. This strengthened his resolve even further until he himself fell in a Turkish attack on the Medya Defense Zones in October 2022 after 13 years of fighting.