For 89 days, relatives of martyrs have been demanding at the northern Syrian border crossing of Semalka that the bodies of fallen guerrilla fighters be handed over by South Kurdistan’s ruling party, KDP.
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.
Today, the families were paid a solidarity visit by members of the Assembly of Martyrs’ Families in Amude.
Speaking in the name of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), Silava El-Rifaî vowed to continue with their struggle and vigil until the remains of the fallen guerrillas are handed over to their families.
