Five guerrillas were killed and two others injured in the Xelîfan region in South Kurdistan in August 2021 as a consequence of an ambush by armed forces linked with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which is engaged in Turkey's activities against the Federal Kurdistan Region. Families of the two guerrillas from Rojava, Tolhildan Raman and Serdem Cudi, who are among the five slain guerrillas, have since been trying to cross from North and East Syria to the Kurdistan Region through the Semalka Border Crossing to receive the bodies of their martyrs. On the 5th of October, the Cizîre District Martyrs' Families Council and families of HPG members began a vigil in response to the blockade.

The mothers and relatives joining the protest action in a tent at Semelka border crossing for 89 days have repeatedly been denied entry to South Kurdistan by the KDP forces, and have been put off with false promises. The KDP had promised to hand over the bodies of the martyrs to the families, but so far nothing has happened. The relatives are determined to continue their protest action until they succeed.

Members of the Democratic Society Movement (TEV-DEM) Dirbêsiyê Bureau paid a solidarity visit to the families today.

In a statement here on behalf of the unions affiliated to TEV-DEM Dirbêsiyê Bureau, Xalid Şêxo condemned the KDP’s refusal to hand over the remains of martyrs and stated that, “The Turkish state is committing various crimes against the people in South Kurdistan in cooperation with the KDP.”

Şêxo stressed that the Turkish state has never been a friend of the Kurds, and urged the KDP to act knowing this.

Xalid Şêxo remarked that they would continue the vigil until the bodies of martyrs are given to their families, calling on human rights organisations and international bodies to form a committee to establish the aftermath of fallen guerrillas’ remains.