Syrian Kurds mourn Iraqi Kurdish leader Talabani in Rojava

Syrian Kurdish political and civilian groups held mourning ceremonies for the late Kurdish leader and former President of Iraq, Jalal Talabani, in the country’s northern area known as Rojava.

QAMISHLO, Syrian Kurdistan (Kurdistan 24) – Syrian Kurdish political and civilian groups held mourning ceremonies for the late Kurdish leader and former President of Iraq, Jalal Talabani, in the country’s northern area known as Rojava.

The Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani died at the age of 83 on Tuesday in Germany.

Following Talabani’s death, the Syrian Kurdish administration declared a three-day national mourning in Rojava. Additionally, observances were held in cities, towns, and villages of the region.

In Qamishlo, the largest predominantly Kurdish city in Rojava, the Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party in Syria, one of the oldest Kurdish parties founded by the Kurdish politician Abdel Hamid Darwish, a close friend of Talabani, hundreds gathered to offer their condolences.

Syrian Kurdish community leaders delivered speeches mourning the late leader Talabani in Qamishlo city, Rojava, Syria, October 8, 2017. (Photo: Kurdistan 24).
Syrian Kurdish community leaders delivered speeches mourning the late leader Talabani in Qamishlo city, Rojava, Syria, October 8, 2017. (Photo: Kurdistan 24).

Some friends of the late Talabani’s family shared with Kurdistan 24 some of the deceased's achievements.

Layla Hasan, Darwish’s wife and a friend of Talabani’s wife Hero Khan, said the late leader was always fighting for the national cause and often far from his family.

“When I asked Talabani about his children Qubad and Bafel, he said he had not seen them for a long time,” she said.

Layla Hasan, a Syrian Kurdish friend of Talabani’s wife Hero Khan, talks about the deeds of the late leader Talabani, Qamishlo city, Rojava, Syria, October 8, 2017. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Layla Hasan, a Syrian Kurdish friend of Talabani’s wife Hero Khan, talks about the deeds of the late leader Talabani, Qamishlo city, Rojava, Syria, October 8, 2017. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)

Other political parties held ceremonies in the cities of Amuda, Dirbesye, Serekaniye, Kobani, and dozens of villages in the region near the border with Turkey.

On Friday, a delegation of Rojava top officials attended the funeral in the Kurdish city of Sulaimani and offered condolences to the family of the late leader.

Rojava delegation included the new co-chairs of the PYD, the main Kurdish ruling party in northern Syria, and met with the President of Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani.

Saleh Muslim, the former PYD co-chair, said in an earlier interview with Kurdistan 24 that the Kurdistan referendum for independence was legitimate.

“We highly respect the will and the decision of the Kurdish people in southern Kurdistan [Kurdistan region of Iraq],” he said.

 

Editing by G.H. Renaud

(Additional reporting by Ekrem Saleh and Dilovan Cheto in Rojava)