The Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) has paid tribute to the late Sırrı Süreyya Önder, a member of the İmralı Delegation and prominent figure in Turkey’s Kurdish and democratic struggles. Önder passed away on 3 May following complications after heart surgery. The KCK issued a statement, commemorating Önder as a “martyr of the struggle for peace and democracy,” and as a person who had dedicated his life to uniting two peoples’ causes.
Önder’s passing, following a long battle with a severe heart condition, left a void in the ongoing struggle for freedom, democracy, and peace in Turkey and Kurdistan. The KCK acknowledged the heavy toll Önder paid for his ideals, including enduring harsh political and personal hardships, particularly in his efforts to foster peace between the Turkish state and the Kurdish movement.
The statement highlighted Önder’s dual role: as a significant figure in Turkey’s socialist movement and as a key ally of the Kurdish people. “He succeeded in uniting the struggles of two peoples, thus fulfilling the most longed-for ideal in Turkey,” the statement read, pointing to his crucial contributions in advancing both socialist and Kurdish struggles, and his contributions to social development through art.
The KCK further emphasised Önder’s legacy by drawing parallels to revolutionary figures like Mahir Çayan, Deniz Gezmiş, İbrahim Kaypakkaya and Yılmaz Güney, noting that he had represented their legacy with pride and ensured its continuation in contemporary struggles. The statement also honoured Önder’s work for peace, noting the high expectations that had been placed on him.
“We feel deep sorrow at his loss,” the KCK said, “but the best way to honour his memory is to continue the fight for peace and democracy, to carry forward the struggle he led.”
In conclusion, the KCK urged its supporters to increase efforts to fulfil Önder’s vision, calling for continued mobilisation in the pursuit of peace, justice and democracy, the very ideals that defined his life’s work.
“His memory must live on through action, and we pledge to continue his struggle,” the statement concluded.
The KCK’s statement is a call to those who admired Önder’s commitment to peace to remain resolute in the pursuit of a democratic future for Turkey and the Kurdish people.
