Thousands bid farewell to YPG fighter Kevin Jochim in Germany

German YPG fighter Kevin Jochim (Dilsoz Bahar) who lost his life while fighting ISIS gangs in Western Kurdistan (Rojava), was laid to rest in Grünwinkel Cemetery in Karlsruhe, Germany yesterday.

German YPG fighter Kevin Jochim (Dilsoz Bahar) who lost his life while fighting ISIS gangs in Western Kurdistan (Rojava), was laid to rest in Grünwinkel Cemetery in Karlsruhe, Germany yesterday.

Dilsoz fell a martyr in clashes in the Şergirat village of Silûk town in Girê Spî on 6th July, 2015. He joined the ranks of the Rojava revolution in November of 2012, after which he took place in numerous daring battles and played an important role in the liberation of ISIS-occupied villages and settlements within the Operation Commander Rubar Qamishlo.

After his death on 6th July, Jochim's body was held at Rojava border for 15 days due to a prevention by authorities from South Kurdistan and Turkey. Transported from Hewler city of South Kurdistan to the German city of Düsseldorf on August 14, his body was this time seized by German authorities and held for one more week on the grounds of an 'autopsy'. He was finally laid to rest in his hometown Karlsruhe yesterday.

Thousands of people gathered at West Bahnhof yesterday and marched to the Grünwinkel Cemetery by chanting slogans “Martyrs are immortal”, “Terrorist Erdoğan” and “Terrorist Turkey”.

Speaking at the cemetery, Mowal Mohammad on behalf of PYD (Democratic Union Party) recalled that Dilsoz had fought for a folk demanding freedom and a democratic life.

NAV-DEM Co-President Yüksel Koç pointed out that those fighting for Rojava Revolution involved not only Kurds but also people from various circles including socialists and democrats. "Dilsoz Bahar is a martyr of the Kurdish people. He will always be remembered with the struggle he gave in Rojava."

Speaking after, Kevin Jochim's mother Maurine Lucie Kozluk said; "There is a land of those living, and a land of those dying. There exists love between these two lands and Kevin bonded the love between them." Jochim's mother ended her words with the slogan "Freedom for Kurdistan".

Following Jochim's burial in company with the slogan “Şehit namirin" [Martyrs are immortal], a video of his was displayed, in which he had told about why he joined the Rojava Revolution.

The funeral ceremony also witnessed a commemoration of internationalist MLKP fighter Ivana Hoffman, who was also of German origin, fought and died in the ranks of the fight for Rojava Revolution. A message by Hoffman's German friends was read out to the mass here.

YPG fighter Jochim’s firends also spoke at the funeral, saying; "Kevin did not die. He is living in our hearts. He fell a martyr for a cause he believed in."

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