On the centennial anniversary of the execution of Sheikh Said and his comrades, the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) stated that Sheikh Said, who was executed in 1925, was a patriotic, sensitive, courageous, and scholarly leader of his people. It affirmed: “With the emergence of Leader Apo and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on the stage of history, the struggle of Sheikh Said and his comrades entered a new historical era, leading to the revolution of national rebirth and breaking the policy of annihilation and denial.”
The Co-Presidency of the KCK issued a statement on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the execution of Sheikh Said and his comrades, which falls on June 29. The statement read:
“A hundred years have passed since the execution of Sheikh Said and his comrades, who hold a firmly rooted place in the memory of the Kurdish people. We always remember them with respect and gratitude. On this centennial anniversary, we once again commemorate Sheikh Said and his comrades with great respect and bow in reverence to their cherished memory. Through them, we also remember all the martyrs of the revolution and democracy with gratitude. We would like to emphasize that the work and efforts of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) on the occasion of the centennial of Sheikh Said and his comrades’ execution hold deep significance.”
“As a patriotic, sensitive, and courageous person, scholar, and leader of the people, Sheikh Said did not accept oppression against his people and opposed the denial of the Kurdish people. The struggle he waged was a historic protest against oppression and denial. Even though their struggle was suppressed through massacres and executions by the fascist and murderous state, they never gave up their cause. Through resistance and heroism, they walked to the gallows, providing significant support to the tradition of Kurdish resistance.”
“As a result of the struggles of Sheikh Said and Seyid Riza, the resistance in Kurdistan never ceased. This phase continued until the emergence of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. With the appearance of Leader Apo and the PKK on the stage of history, the struggle of Sheikh Said and his comrades entered a new historical phase, realizing the revolution of national rebirth and breaking the policy of annihilation and denial.”
“The Kurdish people’s historical struggle has developed within this context. Now, with the historic call for ‘Peace and Democratic Society’ initiated by Leader Apo, this struggle has entered a phase of building Kurdish freedom. The Kurdish people will successfully advance this process. The struggle, which has required great sacrifices from the time of Sheikh Said until now, will bear results and fulfill the longing for freedom. The dream of Sheikh Said, that his grandchildren would not be let down when he was led to the gallows, will be realized, and the struggle will continue. No one should doubt that the Kurdish people will achieve victory. On this occasion and with this faith, we once again remember all the martyrs of the revolution and democracy through Sheikh Said and his comrades with respect and gratitude, and we renew our pledge to the martyrs
