A memorial service for Kasim Engin was held in Darmstadt today. The member of the Central Committee of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) died in a Turkish air attack in Southern Kurdistan on May 27.

There was a great interest in the event that not all of those present could fit in the hall of the Kurdish Community Centre decorated with flowers and pictures of Kasim Engin and Abdullah Öcalan. Hundreds of people gathered in the garden of the association building.

The commemoration ceremony, in which relatives of Kasim Engin (Ismail Nazlikul) also took part, began with a minute's silence. Afterwards a message from the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) was read out.

"Our companion Kasim Engin, who dedicated 35 years of his life to the Kurdish liberation struggle, was martyred in an air raid by the Turkish state. Kasim Engin was a member of the Central Committee of PKK and the Executive Committee of KCK. He was a commander in many guerrilla units, especially in the Tolhildan and Botan areas, and fought for a free Kurdistan and a democratic Middle East. We will achieve this goal under all circumstances. Kasim Engin will live on in the struggle for liberation as a sacrificial militant of the Apoist movement. His death has strengthened the will to succeed in this struggle," the KCK statement said.

A video about Kasim Engin's struggle was then shown. A fellow fighter said in a speech: "He was a student of Abdullah Öcalan and later a teacher of Öcalan's paradigm. He taught thousands of friends and fought until the last moment. As his friends and as a people, we give our word that we will continue the fight until Kasim Engin's dreams are realized."

On behalf of the relatives, Kasim Engin's elder brother Ahmet Nazlikul gave a speech and said: "Kasim Engin was not only my brother, he was your child, your companion, your commander. I send my condolences to the Kurdish people."

In the name of the women's movement, Aysel Doğan said: "I make a promise to my friend. You saw the freedom of the people in the liberation of women. And I will avenge you." Also in a speech of the Kurdish youth a promise was made to continue Kasim Engin's struggle.

Further speeches were made on behalf of the European Federation KCDK-E, KOMAW, MARDEF and the Alevi Federation FEDA.