Euphrates, Jazira residents commemorate martyrs Ali Haydar Kaytan, Riza Alton

The residents of the Euphrates and Jazira Cantons commemorated the martyrs Ali Haydar Kaytan (Fuad) and Riza Alton, who devoted their lives to the Kurdish cause and the freedom of Kurdistan, through separate mourning ceremonies.

In the city of Kobani, the people of the Euphrates Canton remembered the martyrs Ali Haydar Kaytan (Fuad), who was martyred on July 3, 2018, and Riza Alton, who was martyred on September 25, 2019, at the Martyr Dicle Cemetery.

The commemoration ceremony began with a moment of silence, after which the co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in North and East Syria, Gharib Hesso, delivered a speech in which he offered condolences to the families of the martyrs and expressed his respect for their spirits.

Hesso stated, "Martyrs Ali Haydar Kaytan and Riza Alton walked alongside Leader Abdullah Ocalan in a joint struggle for democracy, equality, justice, and the rights of peoples. Therefore, we commemorate them in the name of all the people of Kurdistan. Through them, we also honor all those who struggled and sacrificed for freedom, and we extend our appreciation to the families of the martyrs."

He added, "Martyrs Ali Haydar Kaytan and Riza Alton dedicated their entire lives to the freedom of Kurdistan and continued the struggle until their final moments. Their martyrdom marks the beginning of a new phase toward peace and Kurdish unity."

He mentioned that "the historic call made by Leader Abdullah Ocalan marked the start of a new phase, during which the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) took the initiative to lay down arms in pursuit of peace and democracy, declaring its stance transparently."

Hesso also highlighted Turkey’s position, saying, "The Turkish state still remains ambiguous," adding, "We must be clear: the PKK is the strongest party and has offered the lives of its members with loyalty for the freedom of peoples."

Participants then proceeded to the mourning tent for the martyrs Ali Haydar Kaytan and Riza Alton, which was set up in Martyr Akid Square in the city of Kobani.

Likewise, residents of the cities of Dêrik, Çil Agha, Tal Koçer, and Girkê Legê also commemorated the leaders at the Corniche Stadium in Dêrik.

The memorial ceremony began with a minute of silence in honor of the martyrs, followed by speeches that emphasized the depth of the martyrs’ struggle and their importance in the Kurdish liberation movement.

Mohammed Jamil, co-chair of the Council of Martyrs' Families in the Jazira Canton, said, "The two martyrs chose the path of struggle and resistance, rejecting a life without Kurdish culture, identity, and language. They achieved martyrdom defending the Kurdish people, who have long suffered from marginalization, denial, and genocide."

He added that their struggle was carried out in pursuit of their people’s freedom and that their journey was a tribute to a cause rooted in centuries of oppression.

Jekar Afrin, a member of the Dêrik City Council, affirmed in his speech that the struggle of the PKK continues because it embodies a political and ideological vision representing the path of peoples’ freedom. He likened it to a "school for learning and free life."

He pointed out that "the martyrs Ali Haydar and Riza Alton embodied, through their thought and resistance, the philosophy of Leader Abdullah Ocalan, and they were among its most prominent representatives despite the arrests and persecution they endured."

A short documentary (sinevizyon) was then presented, showcasing key moments from the lives and long struggle of the two martyrs within the Kurdish liberation movement.

A-H

ANHA 

DÊRIK

KOBANÊ