The three revolutionary leaders were captured on 17 March 1971 at Gemerek town in the east of Ankara, having kidnapped four United States soldiers. Gezmiş, a former law student at Istanbul University, a leading figure in the Turkish People’s Liberation Army (THKO) revolutionary youth movement, alongside his comrades Aslan and İnan, were given a “death sentence” even though they had released the US soldiers unharmed.
Gezmiş, Aslan and İnan were hanged on 6 May 1972 by the Turkish state. The Peoples’ United Revolutionary Movement in Europe (HBDH-E) issued a statement on the 48th anniversary of their execution.
“They are en epic of invincibility, born in the belief of a united revolution and in socialism”, said the HBDH-Europe.
HBDH-Europe added: “The three revolutionary leaders have shone the light on the path for thousands of young revolutionaries since 1972. The practice they put forward to reach the goal of the the revolutionary struggle carved their names in the heart and consciousness of the peoples, never to be erased.
“Today, Turkey and Kurdistan’s lands are about to give birth to a great change, a revolution. And right now, today, is the time to take a step ahead with the decisiveness of Deniz and his comrades. We promise to show our commitment to their cause by achieving their goal, which is the goal of a united revolutionary struggle”.
HBDH, formed as a joint organisation of ten political organisations including the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), announced its establishment in the spring of 2016 in Qandil with a press statement. HBDH-Europe organised its first conference on 17-18 October 2020.
