BEHDÎNAN – PKK Executive Committee member Murat Karayılan answered the moderator’s questions in a special broadcast on TV channel Stêrk TV. In the first part of the interview, Karayılan assessed the isolation of the leader of the oppressed societies Abdullah Öcalan and the ongoing war in the Medya Defense Zones and also touched on the Koran burnings in Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Karayılan pointed out that there is a serious attack on Chairman Abdullah Öcalan and that this attack is carried out through psychological violence and isolation. According to Karayılan, the protests against the isolation in the four parts of Kurdistan and abroad are important but not sufficient, the protests and activities must be continued even more to break the torture system against Rêber APO.
Karayılan informed about the ongoing war in the Medya Defense Areas, especially in Metîna, Zap and Avaşîn, saying: “It is not correct to say that the enemy fled from Zap, but it is also wrong to say that they occupy everything and has mastered. There is only one truth: there is war, and this war is ongoing,” Karayılan stressed.
Karayılan pointed to the Koran burnings in Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark and stated that they strongly condemn such acts. Karayılan noted that these incidents strengthen the AKP-MHP regime: “It seems that this is a plan, a plan for the fascist AKP-MHP regime to win back. Especially the people of Kurdistan should know this and the people of Turkey should know that this is a game, an international plan, such a plan is in the making. Everyone should be aware of that. We condemn the perpetrators once again in the strongest terms”.
The first part of the interview of PKK Executive Committee member Murat Karayılan broadcast by Stêrk TV went as follows:
The severe isolation against Chairman Abdullah Öcalan continues. Kurdish society is constantly mobilizing against isolation. How do you rate the current phase?
Recently there have been numerous attacks by the occupying Turkish state on northern Kurdistan. The enemy wanted to take advantage of the wintry conditions, but failed in many places. A very severe war was waged in Cûdî, Gabar and Besta. Our Hevals also put up great resistance in this war. With respect and reverence I commemorate all our Şehîds of the resistance in the person of our comrade and commander Harun who fell in the Cudî resistance, commander Hogir and comrade Evrim who fell in the Gabar resistance and commander Rojbîn Gever who died in the resistance has fallen. Again 2 of our MLCP friends and comrades fell in the attacks of the Turkish state recently. They were our pioneer and commander comrades. I commemorate Heval Ahmet Şoreş and Fırat Newal with respect. It was announced that Heval Melsa Mûş fell to Şehîd last year. She contributed a lot to the Zap resistance. I commemorate all Şehîds of the Zap resistance in the person of Heval Melsa, I bow with respect to their memory. We reiterate our promise to you.
MEASURES AGAINST ISOLATION SHOULD BE FURTHER STRENGTHENED
There is a heavy attack on Rêber APO. These attacks are carried out through psychological torture and increased isolation. We have repeatedly pointed out that this isolation is not directed against just one person, but against an entire society. It is isolation against the freedom of Kurdish society, the future of Kurdish society, democracy in Turkey, law and justice. It is also isolation from the societies of the region. In other words, this isolation is a general isolation; it is the greatest obstacle to law, justice, democracy and freedom. Because with this isolation, the policy of genocide is pursued in Kurdistan. This is understood by the public, our fellow citizens and friends. Therefore, serious reactions can also be observed in the most recent trial. Today a struggle is being waged against the immoral and unjust policies of the Turkish state.
Both our society in the four parts of Kurdistan and our society abroad, our friends, human rights defenders and democrats have spoken out against isolation worldwide. European parliamentarians in France and Germany and members of parliament in Turkey organized demonstrations against the isolation. This situation has also influenced public opinion. Of course, the stage the protests have reached is good, but not good enough. Actually, these protests should have been organized earlier. Actions are being organized all over the world, a concert was held in Italy and now in Spain. It has been accomplished at a certain stage, but as I said, that is not enough. In order to break this international chain of conspiracy and the torture system on Rêber APO, actions and activities must be continued even more strongly.”
THE WAR CONTINUES, IT IS NOT OVER YET
There is a heavy fight in Zap. While the enemy is withdrawing from some areas, they continue to use chemical weapons in many areas. What is the current situation in Zap?
“I have to answer this question well because there are a lot of rumors at the moment. The Turkish state makes both programs and declarations to hide its failures. Discussions are ongoing. There are also some comments from the Kurdish side. We see that the situation is not well understood. It’s not right to say that the enemy fled Zap, but it’s also wrong to say that they occupied and ruled everything. There is only one truth: there is war, and this war is ongoing. Some comments claim that the war is over and the situation is more comfortable now, but that is not the case.
Doesn’t that bring a certain complacency? Because the guerrilla is currently waging a heavy war.
This, of course, leads to complacency and a failure to understand the facts. That may also be our shortcoming. We have also failed to ensure that the situation is well understood. First of all I would like to say the following. Today’s war in the north takes place in all provinces. And now it takes place in Zap, Metîna and Avaşîn. The Turkish state started this war. We are defending ourselves. We believe in a political solution, but the Turkish state overturned the solution table and launched an attack on us. There is no situation where the PKK uses Iraqi territory to attack the Turks. No one from southern Kurdistan has fired a single bullet at the Turkish state since 2012. The Turkish state has developed a concept to occupy the achievements of Kurdish society by striving for the Misak-ı Milli border for themselves and on this basis they have planned attacks against north and south Kurdistan since 2015-2016. That’s the reality. We are being attacked unilaterally and our war is definitely a defensive war, a war to defend the Kurdish areas, a war to defend the holy areas. This is the war being waged today. I mean, some people show something here and there, but that’s the truth. a war to defend the Kurdish lands, a war to defend the holy lands. This is the war being waged today. I mean, some people show something here and there, but that’s the truth. a war to defend the Kurdish lands, a war to defend the holy lands. This is the war being waged today. I mean, some people show something here and there, but that’s the truth.
On the other hand, how was the war, how is it going now? As you know, it started three years ago in Heftanin and lasted a year. That is, the year 2020. And in 2021 and 2022 the Turkish state launched invasion attacks on Avaşîn, the areas of Zap and part of Metîna. We resisted that. With this resistance we protect the territory of Başûrê Kurdistan. If we hadn’t done that, they would have occupied Kurdish territory from Gare to Maxmur and Shengal. They wanted to unite their troops and the forces in Başîka. That was the plan. Why don’t they withdraw from Başiqa now? They are not withdrawing, although the Iraqi state asked them to do so a few years ago. They secretly placed MIT in Kirkuk. You have a plan in front of you. They hide this plan under the name “fight against terrorism”. That’s the truth. We paid a high price in this fight, everyone should see that. The war is not over yet. In 2022, the enemy wanted to completely occupy the Zap region. That’s why you came. However, west of Zap, the enemy could not take a single guerrilla position. They couldn’t hold a single position. They couldn’t close a single tunnel. Therefore, they could not settle down, but had to choose a spot and concentrate all their forces there. However, west of Zap, the enemy could not take a single guerrilla position. They couldn’t hold a single position. They couldn’t close a single tunnel. Therefore, they could not settle down, but had to choose a spot and concentrate all their forces there. However, west of Zap, the enemy could not take a single guerrilla position. They couldn’t hold a single position. They couldn’t close a single tunnel. Therefore, they could not settle down, but had to choose a spot and concentrate all their forces there.
THERE IS WAR IN ÇEMÇO AND SÎDA
There is a place we call Girê FM behind the village of Zêvê. The Turkish state now wants to station its armed forces there. They laid a road, they brought tanks. They want to settle there. They have taken three hills. But we are there too, we have Hevals there. There is Şehîd Munzur Hill, where a war is taking place. This is a place where the Turkish state wants to settle, our hevals don’t allow it, they prevent it. The Turkish state uses all possible weapons against these hevals. There is an uphill battle in Gire FM. In other words: West of Zap, the Turkish state is ineffective, it has failed. They now want to gain supremacy there, but they cannot succeed. On the western side is Metîna. They’ve sealed off Metîna and Girê Hakkari, but our Hevals are close by. On November 25, our Hevals attacked and dealt heavy blows to the enemy. It will soon be seen whether the enemy can hold out there or not. They failed there too, but the war is still going on. They couldn’t surround the east side of Zap either. But they want to create a line from Avaşîn to Şeladizê. There is the Girê Mamreş hill, the end of Kurêjahro. The enemy now concentrates all his weight on the line at Avaşîn. War is raging in the villages of Çemço and Sîda. They failed there too, but the war is still going on. They couldn’t surround the east side of Zap either. But they want to create a line from Avaşîn to Şeladizê. There is the Girê Mamreş hill, the end of Kurêjahro. The enemy now concentrates all his weight on the line at Avaşîn. War is raging in the villages of Çemço and Sîda. They failed there too, but the war is still going on. They couldn’t surround the east side of Zap either. But they want to create a line from Avaşîn to Şeladizê. There is the Girê Mamreş hill, the end of Kurêjahro. The enemy now concentrates all his weight on the line at Avaşîn. War is raging in the villages of Çemço and Sîda.
290 DAYS, THE GUERILLA WILL NOT LET THE ENEMY REST
Look, it’s been nine and a half months. I also calculated that 290 days were overcome. What does the Turkish state want to do? They want to form a line among Marwanîs, Werxel, Çemço, Sîda and Şeladizê and settle there. However, the guerrillas do not allow the enemy to settle in Çemço, Sîda and the surrounding area. There is currently a very fierce war going on there. They laid a road there, they brought tanks and artillery specially to the Çemço area. The Turkish state fired mortar shells at the entire Çemço area from the border posts. From time to time they are hit by planes and tanks. They attack with all sorts of weapons, but our heroic comrades have been resisting for 29 days. They don’t allow the enemy to settle in the area. There are also the posts of Şehîd Doğan, Şehîd Botan and Şehîd Felat. The enemy uses all kinds of weapons, including tanks, howitzers and chemical weapons. Unable to advance into Çemço territory, they use chemical weapons, but have not yet approached the tunnels. They attack from afar. They attack Şehîd Botan and Şehîd Farhad areas, especially Şehîd Botan area, with chemical weapons 10-15 times a day. The Turkish state is trying by all means to destroy this area. There’s such a big war going on there. but so far they have not approached the tunnels. They attack from afar. They attack Şehîd Botan and Şehîd Farhad areas, especially Şehîd Botan area, with chemical weapons 10-15 times a day. The Turkish state is trying by all means to destroy this area. There’s such a big war going on there. but so far they have not approached the tunnels. They attack from afar. They attack Şehîd Botan and Şehîd Farhad areas, especially Şehîd Botan area, with chemical weapons 10-15 times a day. The Turkish state is trying by all means to destroy this area. There’s such a big war going on there.
WE PROMISED TO DEFEND EVERY AREA IN KURDISTAN
I have to say that the Hevals can take their bags there and leave whenever they want. I mean, there is no obstacle in front of them, but they want to defend their country, the country of Başur. Because they are from Kurdistan. We have promised to defend every part of Kurdistan and resist wherever the enemy wants to occupy it. This resistance strengthens the Kurdistan Regional Government, Kurdish politics and the Iraqi government against the Turkish government. Without this resistance, the Turkish state would stand on the Misak-I Milli line and pay no attention to anyone. But today they need everyone. Because they were defeated in the face of resistance from not being able to cast Zap for two years. War is raging there, and the fighters do not come from abroad, but are Kurdistanis. In this war there are many hevals from southern Kurdistan. Commander Berfîn Sara came from Silêmanî, commander Zerdeşt Pîranşehîr comes from Ranya, commander Delal Şoreş from Silêmanî. Heval Egîd Kurdistan comes from Xaneqîn, Heval Şaho Qendîl comes from Seyîdsadiq. For example, Heval Helm Viyan is a relative of Şehîd Viyan Soran. Heval Viyan was our friend from Silêmanî who carried out a Fedaî action. In other words, those who resist here are the children of this country. They come from four parts of Kurdistan. And they don’t offer ordinary resistance, they fight with great will against all kinds of forbidden weapons and they will continue to do so. Commander Berfîn Sara came from Silêmanî, commander Zerdeşt Pîranşehîr comes from Ranya, commander Delal Şoreş from Silêmanî. Heval Egîd Kurdistan comes from Xaneqîn, Heval Şaho Qendîl comes from Seyîdsadiq. For example, Heval Helm Viyan is a relative of Şehîd Viyan Soran. Heval Viyan was our friend from Silêmanî who carried out a Fedaî action. In other words, those who resist here are the children of this country. They come from four parts of Kurdistan. And they don’t offer ordinary resistance, they fight with great will against all kinds of forbidden weapons and they will continue to do so. Commander Berfîn Sara came from Silêmanî, commander Zerdeşt Pîranşehîr comes from Ranya, commander Delal Şoreş from Silêmanî. Heval Egîd Kurdistan comes from Xaneqîn, Heval Şaho Qendîl comes from Seyîdsadiq. For example, Heval Helm Viyan is a relative of Şehîd Viyan Soran. Heval Viyan was our friend from Silêmanî who carried out a Fedaî action. In other words, those who resist here are the children of this country. They come from four parts of Kurdistan. And they don’t offer ordinary resistance, they fight with great will against all kinds of forbidden weapons and they will continue to do so. For example, Heval Helm Viyan is a relative of Şehîd Viyan Soran. Heval Viyan was our friend from Silêmanî who carried out a Fedaî action. In other words, those who resist here are the children of this country. They come from four parts of Kurdistan. And they don’t offer ordinary resistance, they fight with great will against all kinds of forbidden weapons and they will continue to do so. For example, Heval Helm Viyan is a relative of Şehîd Viyan Soran. Heval Viyan was our friend from Silêmanî who carried out a Fedaî action. In other words, those who resist here are the children of this country. They come from four parts of Kurdistan. And they don’t offer ordinary resistance, they fight with great will against all kinds of forbidden weapons and they will continue to do so.
WE FIGHT EACH OTHER, THIS IS THE SITUATION
In the middle of that winter, the Turkish state failed to achieve the desired success and ended the operation. They announced to the public that “we locked down the Zap line.” But that is a lie, there is no such thing. At the moment they want to station all their forces in Girê FM and destroy our Hevals there. There is a very fierce war going on in Girê FM and Avaşîn. The Turkish state and the AKP-MHP government lie to the public and hide the truth. They try to hide their dead by saying the operation is over, but their soldiers are dying every day. Where they say they have succeeded, for example on the western side of Zap, the enemies have left their bodies and fled. Unable to take their bodies with them, they burned them. In short, the Turkish state was defeated, that’s true. But we shouldn’t underestimate the situation because the war is still ongoing and some areas are closed. We are still fighting with Turkish soldiers. This is the situation.
This is undoubtedly a great success for the Kurdistan Freedom Guerrilla. However, everyone should know that this is not easy and involves great sacrifices. This can only be achieved with the awareness of the lineage of Rêber APO and the spirit of Fedaî. It can be achieved through professional combat, through tactics, methods and strategies. This is a new strategy and an example for the whole world. This is not an ordinary situation. Today, Kurdish young women and men are waging a historic war here with great will. In order to win this historical resistance, we call on our society in four parts of Kurdistan, especially our society in Bashurê Kurdistan, to embrace this resistance, not leave them alone and support them.”
In one of your interviews you said: “The soldiers there will either leave or they will all die there”. What happened to these soldiers? Where exactly did they go?
“It is true that we said this sentence for the soldiers in Girê Amediyê, i.e. above the village of Sêgîrî, because at that time KDP forces had also positioned themselves. In fact, their positioning there was weak by military standards. It was obvious that they would not get any results there. They fought with our Hevals for 7-8 months. You couldn’t get a result. Our Hevals dealt them heavy blows, killing most of them. Our Hevals found their bodies, it was even reported in the press. This place is near Sergelê, near the villages of Kanê and Amediyê. According to our command, the entire enemy force could have been annihilated there. We don’t say anything we can’t do. That’s a fact. The more our hevals hit the enemy, the more the enemy realized that he was going to take more casualties and got scared. I believe they attacked this area with fighter planes on November 11th. They organized air raids on the village of Sergelê and all these areas. They fled during this attack. We knew they would flee. That is why we are self-critical in this situation, we should have either captured the enemy or not let him live. There was a chance. My statement ‘they will either go or die’ was a fact. Some of them died, others escaped. That was the end.” They organized air raids on the village of Sergelê and all these areas. They fled during this attack. We knew they would flee. That is why we are self-critical in this situation, we should have either captured the enemy or not let him live. There was a chance. My statement ‘they will either go or die’ was a fact. Some of them died, others escaped. That was the end.” They organized air raids on the village of Sergelê and all these areas. They fled during this attack. We knew they would flee. That is why we are self-critical in this situation, we should have either captured the enemy or not let him live. There was a chance. My statement ‘they will either go or die’ was a fact. Some of them died, others escaped. That was the end.” others escaped. That was the end.” others escaped. That was the end.”
There is war in Besta. 6 female guerrillas became Şehîds. A competitor named Nimet Encu was also penalized. What does this contra mean for the reality in Kurdistan? Who does he represent?
“He undoubtedly represents the Kurdish betrayal of our time. But first, the following must be said. The Goyî tribe, like many other tribes of Botan and Kurdistan, carried a heavy burden in our revolution. They have many Şehîds. There are hundreds of heroes like Heval Mehmet Goyî, Serbest Goyî, Berxwedan, Bêrîtan, Rojhat who served as commanders in our war. Finally Heval Evîn Encu and before that Cesur Roboskî. In other words, there are too many heroes to count. In the last war you mentioned, 6 friends died. Among these friends were Delîla Goyî, Evîn Encu. The Goyî tribe is generally a Welatparêzer tribe and took part in our war, they have many commanders and heroes. Some of them are still alive, others became Şehîds. Fedaî Sara Tolhildan Goyî is a sign of apoist militancy. The Goyî tribe is a tribe with great values. But there is a reality of Kurdish society. No matter how beautiful and valuable something is in a place, there is also something bad next to it. So there is also a betrayal. Of course, we don’t see all village guards as traitors, but there are some among those guards who have really betrayed their society. Nimet Encu was one of them. Roboskî and Bêceh are two villages close to each other. After the Roboskî massacre, we really hoped that nobody would act as an agent for the Turkish state. You can have a gun, but you can’t act as an agent. As far as we know about this person, the Hevals have been lobbying him for a while to stop being a spy. But he didn’t stop being a spy and deepened his betrayal even more. This person has done the Turkish state a great service. That is why the Turkish state writes a scenario as if she favors him. In reality, they don’t love Kurds, but they love Kurds who betray their society. This deceased person was one such person. The Kurds who are now committing treason are indeed committing a very serious betrayal. The Kurds are very brave and courageous, but there are also traitors hiding under the enemy’s armor. When the enemy praises them, they are ecstatic. In other words, when a general pats a traitor on the back, he gets drunk I’ve said it before: A Kurdish traitor would eat 7 kilos of shit for a “well done”. If a general pats him on the back, he goes and eats 15 pounds of shit with him.
THIS ENEMY CANNOT ATTACK US IF THERE ARE NO TRAITORIAL KURDS WITH HIM
That’s how bad the Kurdish betrayal is. Nimet Encu is one of them. He was not only involved in operations in front of the enemy, but also as an agent. Especially on the side of Başûr, in Heftanîn, Metîna, information was passed on to the enemy through him and our hevals became Şehîds. Especially 2 of these Şehîds were very important and significant for us. In Heftanîn, Heval Savaş Maraş and his 4 Fedaî friends, in turn the commander of Metîna, Heval Têkoşer Şemzînan and our Hevals with him became Şehîds by the hand of this person. Also some people from Bashur took part in this betrayal. Our society of Goyî and Bêceh should know this truth. Their children are still young, they do not know what crimes their fathers committed against their society. I believe that they will understand when they grow up. I have a list with me; we have 18 Şehîds and heroes through Encu. These are only those who bear the name of Encu… Such a reality exists in Kurdistan. From one tribe comes a hero, a brave and brave man, and from the other tribe comes a traitor and collaborator.
The enemy flatters this person who realizes that our Hevals are in Besta and they start an operation. During the clashes, our YJA Star forces under the command of Heval Evîn Goyî, Heval Silav Faraşîn and Heval Rojbîn Gever resisted for two days. Then they reach martyrdom. All 6 fallen friends were cadres in the cities for our party. I commemorate these heroic Şehîds with respect, because they are the pioneers of our revolution. They became Şehîds because they put up great resistance.
The same war was fought twice in Gabar and two days in a row in Cudî. Meanwhile, the enemy made numerous attacks on Botan. But they did it at the hands of such traitors. We must know that this enemy can never defeat us alone. The enemy cannot attack us if the treacherous Kurds are not with them and helping them. The Kurds should no longer betray their society. Don’t side with the bloodthirsty enemy, don’t become agents. You can’t be brave like that, you can’t be human like that. Since no traitors. We are now in a time when we must establish our national unity. We deserve to live freely in this country. Because there are so many brave
In the last few days there have been interesting events in Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark. Some people who call themselves right wing and fascist are burning the Koran, the holy book of Muslims. In this way they want to insult Muslim society. But why are such events actually organized? What is behind these incidents?
“First of all, the burning of the Koran is an absolutely offensive, disrespectful and immoral attack on the Islamic world. We condemn such acts in the strongest possible terms. One should look at who are the perpetrators of such acts. racists and fascists. It looks like a plan. First it was in Sweden, then in the Netherlands and finally in Denmark. What connections there are is controversial. However, this situation undoubtedly serves the fascist AKP-MHP regime. The AKP-MHP regime has ruined Turkey, created war, anti-Kurdish sentiments and contradictions. In that sense, they left nothing behind in Turkey. There is no law, no democracy, there is an economic crisis, people are starving. Now they are in the voting phase. This fascist regime has no more propaganda. There are only 2 things. One is nationalism and racism. They always say they are national. The second is the abuse of the religion of Islam.
When fascists in Europe go and burn the Koran, it strengthens the hand of the AKP-MHP regime. They present themselves as ‘defenders of Islam’ and ‘defenders of the Turkish nation’ and say: ‘They are attacking us, we are being attacked in Europe’. In other words, these events serve the fascist AKP-MHP regime. What connections there are and what kind of system there is is a separate discussion. I can say a few things about that. People know that too. However, it seems that this is a plan, a plan for the fascist AKP-MHP regime to win back. Especially the people of Kurdistan should know that and the people of Turkey should know that this is a game, an international plan, such a plan is in the making. Everyone should be aware of that.
