A Kurdish patriot named Halil Şen, who has been living in Dresden, Germany for 25 years, set his body on fire to condemn the aggravated isolation in Imrali on the anniversary of the international conspiracy against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan on 15 February 1999. Şen, who chose the front yard of the state council building in Dresden as the place for his action, said in the letter he left behind, “No news has been received for months from the Humanity Leader Serok (Leader) Apo, and neither lawyers nor his family are allowed to meet with him. There are some attempts, but they are not enough”.

It is reported that Şen, a man known and beloved by the Kurdish people living in Dresden and its surroundings for years, left the house on Friday, February 13, stating that he will participate in the march to be held in Berlin on the anniversary of the international conspiracy. While he has not been heard from since that day, the directors of the Dresden Kurdish-German Friendship Association went to the police and filed a missing person application.

The German police released the DNA test results today, determining the identity of Şen.

Police conducted an investigation and found out that Halil Şen was the person who lost his life shortly after setting his body on fire in Dresden city center at around 13.30 on Friday. Şen's body is expected to be given to his family.

In the meantime, the largest umbrella organization of the Kurdish Diaspora in Germany, KON-MED members and executives will also have a press release at the place where Halil Şen set his body on fire.

Halil Şen’s letter

The letter found at Halil Şen's home revealed that he carried out the action to protest the ongoing isolation in Imrali on the anniversary of February 15th. Şen, who was born in 1971 in the Eruh district of Siirt, stated that no news has been received from Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan for 9 months.

In his letter, Şen pointed to the hunger strike resistance in Turkey’s prisons for the physical freedom of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and said, “Thousands of Kurdish women are in prison, this is my revolt. Those who call themselves Kurdish, patriots, those who say Kurdistan is my country, those who want Kurdistan to be free, the patriotic Kurdish people and their friends should immediately overcome indifference”.

Şen said that the occupiers attacked the Kurdish people in four parts of Kurdistan.

“Wherever they are in the world, they are attacking the children and friends of the patriotic honorable Kurdish people and trying to eliminate them. The patriotic Kurdish people and their friends may unite around values ​​and pay the price by working more than ever before, so that the Kurdish people can live with their Kurdishness, their language, their history and their customs. If we do not do these, we will lose, humanity will lose, let's not allow it” said Şen emphasizing that Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan has not been heard for months.

Şen said there is a great insensitivity among the patriotic Kurdish people in Europe and in the diaspora emphasizing that this silence will not bring nothing to anyone.

He added that the 45-year PKK struggle is not only the struggle of the Kurdish people but also a humanity struggle.

Şen concluded his letter: "We are in the 22nd anniversary of the international conspiracy against the leader of humanity, Serok Apo. I condemn all the forces and collaborators involved in the conspiracy on February 15, 1999 with hatred. I say to the international conspirators and collaborators that as long as humanity lives, our sun, humanity's leader Serok Apo will illuminate our path. This is a pledge against conspirators and collaborators.

Our Sun Serok Apo has been guiding and illuminating humanity for 50 years, protecting humanity and will continue to protect it. The price is necessary for honorable freedom, honorable people paid the price in the past, and honorable people will pay the price from now on."