Turkish airstrike kills Kurdish theatrical Icon

The attack occurred on Jan. 18, when Turkish forces launched airstrikes targeting the area held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and despite medical efforts, the injuries sustained by the artist proved fatal.

Jumaa Khalil Ibrahim. (Photo: Social media)
Jumaa Khalil Ibrahim. (Photo: Social media)

Jan. 19, 2025

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Kurdish theatrical luminary Jumaa Khalil Ibrahim, widely known as Bavi Tayyar, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, following a Turkish airstrike on Tishreen Dam in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), approximately 70 kilometers southwest of Kobani city.

A source close to Bavi Tayyar informed Kurdistan24 that on Jan. 17, the artist with a group of his colleagues went to the Tishreen Dam in order to defend the area.

The source further elaborated, “During his time there, Bavi Tayyar inspired those around him with his unwavering optimism”.

The attack occurred on Jan. 18, when Turkish forces launched airstrikes targeting the area held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and despite medical efforts, the injuries sustained by the artist proved fatal.

Bavi Tayyar, born in Qamishlo in 1957, was a towering figure in Kurdish theater, dedicating over three decades to the stage, he directed and performed in several plays, embedding themes of patriotism and the identification crisis faced by Kurdish people into his work. His profound impact on the Kurdish arts and his steadfast commitment to his homeland have left an indelible mark on Kurdish culture and society.