NEWS CENTER –
Mam Zeki was born on December 28, 1952 in the village of Şahîsma, which is part of the city of Ālih in North Kurdistan. In 1969, due to the oppression of the Turkish state on the Kurds and especially on the Yezidi community, like many Yezidi families, he moved to Europe with his family.
In 1979, he established a relationship with the Kurdistan Freedom Movement and worked in the European Yezidi community. He played a major role in the organization of the Yezidi community there. In 1989, he officially joined the Kurdistan Freedom Movement. He was arrested by the German government in 1990 and spent a long time in prison.
After being released from prison, he expanded his activities and works with his family for the Yezidi community and the freedom of Kurdistan with all his might. In the meantime, the son of Zeki Şengali named Qasim Ozden (Sipan) and his sister’s son Khan Demir were martyred in the struggle for the freedom of Kurdistan.
In 1999, Zeki Şengali decided to return to his motherland so he returned to Kurdistan. He maked a great impact with his struggle, work and relationships. He also played an important role in the Kurdistan Freedom Movement and becomes a member of the Executive Council of the Kurdistan Communities (KCK).
Mam Zeki was a national figure and had a revolutionary feeling. He never divided Kurdistan. He always worked for national unity. Therefore, in 2013, he leaded the meetings for the national congress. He was trying to end the conflicts between the parties in Kurdistan and bring them closer together and fulfill the hope of the Kurdish people for years. But this kind of effort was troubling the ruling powers, so they continued all their dirty policies in order to stop the achievement of this goal.
When the ISIS gangs attacked Shengal, Zeki Şengalı also went to Shengal and led the resistance. He worked day and night to organize the Yezidis and build an independent Shengal. With this work, he got very much respect from the entire Yezidi community and was accepted as a pioneer. The love for Shengali reaches such a level that now the Yezidi community sees him as a part of them and makes a nest in their hearts. Therefore, now the people defines him as “Uncle Zeki” and is known by this in the community and the region.
On August 15, 2018, Mam Zeki participated in the commemoration of the victims of the massacre of the Koço village by the ISIS gangs in 2014. After the ceremony, Mam Zeki went to Shengal. But the occupying Turkish state, which was attacking Shengal despite the pains suffered, targeted Mam Zeki. When Mam Zeki’s vehicle reaches the Shilo Valley of Mount Shengal, the warplanes of the Turkish state bombard it. As a result of the bombing, Mam Zeki was martyred.
Mam Zeki’s funeral was held on August 19, 2018, at the Martyr Dilgeş and Martyr Berxwedan Cemetery in Mount Shengal, with the participation of thousands of people. After the martyrdom of Mam Zeki, the Yezidi people strengthened their will to follow him. On the one hand, they are giving life to the memory of their uncle, on the other hand, they are struggling to recognize the autonomous system of İzidkhan. At the place where Mam Zaki was martyred, a memorial has been built and is visited.
