Thousands in North Kurdistan have flocked to cemeteries on the first day of the Ramadan Eid to visit the graves of the fallen combatants of PKK, YPG and the YPJ.

ŞIRNAK

Thousands of people visited the cemetery in Cumhuriyet neighbourhood where the fallen fighters of HPG, YPG and YPJ are buried in Şırnak. After gathering in front of the DBP building early this morning, thousands of people including HDP Şırnak deputies Leyla Birlik and Aycan İrmez, Şırnak co-mayors, DBP and HDP executives, members of MEYADER and Peace Mothers marched to the cemetery by chanting the slogan “Happy Eid Leader Apo”. Following a minute's silence in the cemetery DBP Şırnak branch co-chair saluted the crowd and celebrated the Eid of the Kurdish Leader Öcalan, the families of the fallen fighters and the political prisoners.

Following the visit in the cemetery, a large group of people also visited the political prisoners and their families.

In Silopi district of Şırnak, thousands of people also visited the graves of the PKK, HPG, YJA-STAR, YPG and YPJ, after staging a march to the cemetery in Kobanê neighbourhood from the building of MEYADER in the district. MEYADER Silopi branch co-chair Nadir Kuday celebrated the Eid of the Kurdish people there, primarily of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and wished that the Eid brings peace and freedom to the people.

AMED

In the main Kurdish city Amed also, thousands flocked to Yeniköy and Mardinkapı cemeteries, where PKK, PKK, HPG, YJA-STAR, YPG and YPJ fighters are buried.

URFA

The visits to the cemeteries in Viranşehir district of Urfa began in the early hours of the morning. Viranşehir co-mayors Filiz Yılmaz, Emrullah Cin, DBP executives and MEYADER representatives also joined the crowd. Following the visits in the cemetery, the crowd paid a visit to the family of Emine Dinç who lost his life in Rojava recently.

HAKKARİ

Hundreds of people in Hakkari paid a visit to the martyr's cemetery where PKK, YPG and the YPJ fighters are buried. MEYADER representatives, DBP and HDP executives, Hakkari co-mayors and representatives of NGOs also joined the visit. Speaking at the cemetery, MEYADER Hakkari branch co-chair Bedirhan Koç said the Kurdish people have always taken the ownership of their children and that they will continue to work to carry their struggle further.

AĞRI

In Diyadin district of Ağrı, the HDP and the DBP district branches organised a visit to the cemetery where the PKK fighters were buried. The crowd also visited the grave of former HDP district co-chair Cezmi Budak, who lost his life in a provocation of the Turkish army in Tendürek Mountain on 11 April. Cenap İlboğa, who was wounded in the same attack of the Turkish soldiers, also joined the visit which witnessed emotional moments.

VAN

The DBP and HDP district branches in Çaldıran district of Van also organised a visit to the cemetery of the martyred fighters of PKK, YPG/YPJ. Following the visit to the cemetery, the group also paid a visit to the grave of Kurdish journalist Deniz Fırat, who lost her life in Maxmur on 8 August 2014 while covering the clashes between the ISIS gangs and the PKK guerrillas in Maxmur camp.