On the first anniversary of his passing, revolutionary journalist Seyit Mahmoud Evran was honoured at his graveside in the Martyrdom of Delil Sarokhan cemetery in Qamishli (Qamişlo). Media professionals, members of the Council of Martyrs’ Families, and countless supporters convened to pay tribute to his enduring legacy.
Evran died in North and East Syria on 22 September 2023 after a prolonged battle with heart disease, leaving behind a monumental 32-year contribution to advancing the free press and the Kurdish cause.
The ceremony began with a silence, followed by remarks from Mihyedîn Hasen, a Council member, who underscored Evran’s lifelong struggle for truth, freedom, and justice. Hasan said that Evran, and others who sacrificed their lives for the same principles, must be remembered.
Dilyar Ciziri, Co-chair of the Free Press Union (YRA), read Evran’s final message, highlighting his three-decade fight for democracy. Evin Ibrahim, a YRA Board member, vowed to continue the journalist’s struggle, ensuring that his revolutionary spirit lives on.
Born in 1969 in Hani (Hênê), situated in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority Diyarbakir (Amed), he was raised by a family deeply rooted in the values of the Sheikh Saeed Piran uprising. His grandfather had fought in ranks of Kurdish fighters, inspiring Evran to devote his life to uncovering the truth and defending his people.
During his studies at Cukurova University, Evran met Gürbetelli Ersöz, a pioneer in revolutionary media, who shaped his journalistic career. He joined the Kurdish freedom movement in 1990, covering events of Turkey’s Kurdistan under immense political and security pressure.
Despite facing arrests, injuries, and witnessing genocidal actions on Kurds, Evran remained steadfast in reporting the unfettered realities of the Kurdish struggle.
His principled and freedom-oriented journalistic approach had an impact across all four regions of Kurdistan. His analytical writings were also featured in various Persian-language journals published by Kurdish students in Tehran.
Evran’s career reached new heights with the outbreak of the 19 July Revolution. The journalist became a founding figure for revolutionary media emerging in North and East Syria (Rojava), shaping generations of journalists and contributing to the free media movement.
So profound was his commitment to his work and revolutionary ideals that he continued his efforts in the free media despite challenges posed by the covid-19 pandemic and the aftermath of a heart attack.
Before he died, the distinguished journalist delivered a final message reaffirming his unwavering dedication to the Kurdish cause:
“My Grandfather began this struggle as he marched alongside Sheikh Said [Şêx Saîd]. I am his Grandson, and I continued to carry the flag passed on to me with Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).”
Evran also highlighted, in the departing message, his experiences across diverse regions of Kurdistan, “From Amed to Xerzan [Garzan], and from Efrîn [Afrin] to Qamişlo [Qamishli],” stating, “Now part of me has become Bakur, part Rojava, part Başur and part Rojhilat [respectively North, West, South and East Kurdistan]. I have become Kurdistan entirely.”
Evran’s legacy also endures through the memory of media professionals he mentored, such as the late Dilişan Ibish and Nojian Arhan, and his groundbreaking work at the Martyr Fayik Academy.
