Aldar Khalil affirms martyrs are safety valve of Rojava; symbol of its resilience

The Martyrs' Families Councils in the cities of Qamishlo and Afrin organized a funeral procession today for the bodies of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter, martyr Akri Afrin (real name Ahmed Omar), and Internal Security Forces (Asayish) member, martyr Masoud Omar, who were martyred on January 18 on the Al-Abyad road. They were laid to rest in the Martyr Dalil Sarukahn Shrine.

The ceremony also included a memorial service for 21 martyrs from the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) who fell during the resistance in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh in Aleppo last January. The martyrs are: Mahmoud Hourik, Zahreddine Hijazi, Mustafa Akil, Masoud Abdo, Ahmed Koli, Louay Ahmed, Taleb Alloush, Sarbast Jaafar, Haji Khalil, Mahmoud Rashid, Bashar Waqas, Ahmed Suleiman, Judi Hassan, Munther Suleiman, Hassan Ahmo, Anwar Jumaa, Nabi Hamoush, Muhammad Ali, Jumaa Sheikho, Khaled Haji, and Abdul Rahman Issa.

A large crowd of residents, relatives of the martyrs, and representatives from civil and military institutions participated in the ceremony, along with Aldar Khalil, a member of the Co-chairmanship of the Democratic Union Party (PYD). Images of the martyrs were displayed, and slogans glorifying their sacrifices were chanted.

The ceremony began with a minute of silence in honor of the martyrs, followed by a military parade by the Internal Security Forces. Then, Derouk Qamishlo, a leader in the Internal Security Forces in Qamishlo, delivered a speech in which he said: "We have never feared martyrdom or making sacrifices. As long as there are martyrs like Ziad Halab and Masoud, there is no fear of death. We are all ready to struggle and follow in the footsteps of our martyrs. We have pledged to live up to the expectations of the mothers, fathers, and children of the martyrs."

He added: "In the presence of 23 martyrs, we say that great responsibilities rest upon our shoulders. As Internal Security Forces, we renew our pledge before the martyrs and our people that we will remain vigilant guardians of the security and safety of our regions, and we will resist until our last breath."

Speaking on behalf of the Martyrs' Families Council in Qamishlo, Shadia Ibrahim said, "In this blessed ceremony, we, as mothers and fathers of martyrs, renew our pledge to the martyrs. Today, no power can separate us from the thought and philosophy of Leader Abdullah Ocalan, for we have become strong-willed thanks to the blood of our martyrs." She emphasized that the resistance achieved in Rojava is unparalleled in the world, adding, "Such resistance will never be broken, no matter how much treachery and betrayal it faces. As families of martyrs, we declare our unwavering commitment to our pledge and to our martyrs."

Aldar Khalil, a member of the Co-chairmanship of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), also spoke, saying that words cannot adequately describe the greatness of the martyrs and their sacrifices. He offered his greetings to the families of the martyrs and affirmed that the resilience and struggle the people are experiencing today are the fruits of their sacrifices.

Aldar Khalil noted that the events in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh constituted an "epic heroism" written by the fighters, foremost among them the martyr Ziad Halab and his comrades, affirming their commitment to following the path of the martyrs and achieving the goals for which they sacrificed their lives.

He added that the Kurdish people face daily attempts and attacks aimed at erasing their existence and identity, stating that the martyrs formed the primary obstacle to these schemes, and that the people's adherence to their principles and the sacrifices of their martyrs has made Rojava a symbol of true democracy and socialism.

Aldar Khalil emphasized the continuation of the struggle to achieve a democratic Syria that recognizes the rights of the Kurdish people and all people, pointing out that the peace process in Turkey is not solely a Turkish matter, but rather a step towards resolving the Kurdish issue in all parts of Kurdistan, and constitutes an entry point for resolving many of the outstanding issues in the Middle East.

For her part, the sister of martyr Ziad Halab, Roheef Halab, spoke, referring to the valiant resistance shown in Sheikh Maqsoud under the leadership of martyr Ziad and his comrades. She offered condolences to the families of the martyrs and vowed to follow in their footsteps, concluding her remarks with the saying, "Forgetting is betrayal."

After the speeches concluded, the documents of the 23 martyrs were read and handed over to their families. The mourners then carried the bodies of martyrs Akri Afrin and Masoud Omar on their shoulders to their final resting place in the cemetery, amidst chants glorifying martyrdom and the martyrs.

ANHA