Five members of the Makhmur Self Defense Forces who were martyred in the aerial attack against Martyr Rüstem Cudi (Makhmur) Refugee Camp were seen off to Qandil by thousands of people in the morning hours.

Thousands gathered early in the morning in front of the Makhmur Martyrs’ Families Institution with Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s posters, PKK, HPG, YJA-STAR and KCK flags and photographs of martyrs.

The crowd saw off the five martyrs to Qandil with chants of “Şehit namirin” (Martyrs are immortal) and “Bijî Serok Apo” (Long live leader Apo).

Martyrs were seen off to Qandil with a convoy of dozens of vehicles, and were greeted with victory signs and slogans by people in villages and towns on the way. The martyrs’ bodies were received by HPG and YJA-STAR guerillas.

A ceremony was held in the Martyr Mehmet Karasungur Martyrs Cemetery for martyred Self Defense Forces members Botan Amed, Bager Boran, Çekdar Mawa, Baz Dijwar and Dewran Mardîn.

After the ceremony, Makhmur People’s Council Co-chair Hisên Kara gave a speech and said the Martyr Rüstem Cudi Refugee Camp is the camp of resisters. Kara added: “We grow with our martyrs. Attacks can’t turn us away from the resistance. We will continue our struggle on the path of the martyrs.”

Kurdistan Women’s Association (KJK) Coordination Member Besê Erzîncan spoke afterwards and said: “Invading states want to break the will of the peoples of Kurdistan with these attacks. But we continue our struggle to defend the lands and the people of Kurdistan. As our martyrs increase, our duty and responsibility grows. We are a party of martyrs. We will expand the struggle of our martyrs.”

The five Makhmur Self Defense Forces members were laid to rest to after the speeches.