Writer Mehmed Uzun, one of the pillars of modern Kurdish novel and literature, has been commemorated by his family members and readers by his grave in Mardinkapı Cemetery in Amed at the 10th anniversary of his death.

Red carnations and Uzun's book Bîra Qederê [The Well of Fate] were left on his grave during the commemoration.

'THOSE DEFAMING MEHMED CANNOT BE BROTHERS TO THE KURDS'

Uzun’s brother Mustafa Uzun held a speech after the prayers, and said: "I believe that Mehmed is now with us. We wanted to commemorate him in a way he deserves, but the current process we are being through did not allow it. We hope that these dark days will end soon."

Uzun's father-in-law, Celal Uzun, spoke after and said; "We can organise memorial nights in Stockholm, but not here. I protest those who claim 'we are brothers'. They say 'we are not against the Kurds', but we see today that they are indeed standing against the Kurds and their language. They have removed Memed’s name from the park that was named after him, and attempted to do the same in the library that was similarly named after Memed in Viranşehir.”

WHO IS MEHMED UZUN?

Uzun was a Kurdish writer who had to leave Turkey and settled in Sweden in 1977. He was sued many times in Turkey and was deprived of Turkish citizenship in 1981. Uzun was able to return to Turkey only in 1992. Numerous books he wrote were published in about twenty languages. Uzun also did researches on the Kurdish language.

Being a member of the Swedish Writers' Union for many years, Uzun at the same time worked actively for the Swedish and International Pen Club. All the Kurdish novels written by Uzun, who was also a member to the Swedish and World Union of Journalists, were also translated into Turkish.

Uzun was for the first time put on trial in the spring of 2001 in relation to his novel “Light like Love, Dark like Death” and his book "Pomegranate flowers". Following a treatment for the cancer he was diagnosed with, Uzun lost his life in Amed on October 11, 2007.

The Kurdish novelist was laid to rest at Mardinkapı Cemetery on October 13. Speeches at his funeral were made by writer Yaşar Kemal, politicians Şerafettin Elçi, Ahmet Türk and Osman Baydemir.