On path of truth… Journalist Aziz Koyluoğlu

The devoted struggler, a diligent member of the free press and a relentless seeker of truth, Aziz Koyluoğlu, was martyred on January 27, 2025, in Ranya district, in the city of Sulaymaniyah, South Kurdistan, during an attack carried out by the Turkish occupation state.

Aziz Koyluoğlu, who spent 32 years of his life traversing the four parts of Kurdistan to uncover and reveal the truth, was born in 1976 in the Çınar district of Amed, the capital of resilience and resistance in North Kurdistan.

He was raised in a patriotic family, influenced by the resistance culture embodied by Sheikh Said and Mazlum Dogan. Thus, from a young age, he became aware of the reality of the Kurds and Kurdistan, embarking on a journey to seek the truth. Like any patriotic Kurd, he chose the path of truth and began his struggle from his village.

Due to his activism and struggle, he was arrested multiple times and imprisoned. At the age of 16, he faced torture and repression from the Turkish state firsthand. However, he had already made his decision to live a free life, and his response was to intensify his struggle.

In this context, our comrade Aziz Koyluoğlu used to say: "In my childhood, I was arrested and thrown into prison. Like many Kurdish children, I was subjected to torture and oppression. It was then that I realized that without freedom, there is no life in Kurdistan."

In 1994, Aziz Koyluoğlu began his revolutionary work and struggle in Amed, later moving to major cities in Turkey, where he was arrested once again.

Between 1996 and 1998, he was arrested three times. During his imprisonment, he remained steadfast in the face of torture, never surrendering, and staying true to the legacy of Mazlum. He carried out his revolutionary role with great courage.

After his release from prison, he continued his journey toward freedom with unwavering determination. With passion and dedication, he pursued the path of truth, determined to expose the reality of Kurdish enemies and bring it to light for the world, enlightening society with the truth.

Reflecting the reality of the free mountains

In 2000, Aziz Koyluoğlu worked as a journalist and truth-seeker in the Medya defense areas, including Qandil, Khakurke, and Khinerê. He documented the struggle and lives of freedom fighters through photographs, videos, and writings, bringing them to the world through media.

For many years, with great enthusiasm, he moved from one mountain to another, documenting through his words, writings, and camera the resistance and resilience of the free mountains, becoming the voice of truth in conveying the Kurdish people's struggle to the world.

Among his comrades, Aziz Koyluoğlu was known for his humility, dedication, and tireless efforts. Wherever there was a struggle for a free life, he was there, participating in the resistance against oppression with all his energy.

Becoming a voice of the Rojava Revolution

When the July 19 Revolution began in Rojava in 2012, he headed there in 2013 to be part of it. He traveled through many cities and villages in Rojava, familiarizing himself with the region and its people while working to bring the people's revolution to the world.

In 2018, when the Turkish occupation state launched attacks on Afrin, Aziz, without hesitation, went to Mount Kormanj and participated in the "Resistance of the Age," which lasted for 58 days, closely reporting on its developments and exposing the brutality of the Turkish state to the world.

When the Turkish occupation attacked Serê Kaniyê and Girê Spî/Tal Abyad in 2019, Aziz was there once again. Through his writings and reports, he conveyed to the world both the brutality of the occupation and the people's resistance against it.

Hawler, Kirkuk, and Sulaymaniyah

Aziz Koyluoğlu also worked as a journalist in South Kurdistan, continuing his journey of uncovering the truth. From Hawler to Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah, he documented political, social, and military realities, bringing them to public attention in Kurdistan and beyond.

Reporter, editor, analyst, and teacher

Over his 32-year career, Aziz Koyluoğlu took on crucial roles in journalism, reporting, editorial work, research, and analysis, as well as training and mentoring new journalists. He became an integral part of social truth and the voice of the people.

In every aspect of journalism he worked in, he trained dozens of journalists, guiding them to advanced stages in their careers. Today, in North Kurdistan, South Kurdistan, and Rojava, the journalists he trained continue to convey the truth with honesty. In this way, our comrade Aziz became one of the pillars of free media and a keeper of historical truths.

While working as a journalist in South Kurdistan, Aziz Koyluoğlu was martyred on January 27, 2025, on the road to Ranya in Sulaymaniyah, following a brutal attack by the Turkish occupation state on the vehicle he was traveling in.

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ANHA