Another guerrilla killed by Turkish chemical weapons in South Kurdistan

The press center of the People’s Defense Forces (HPG) announced that another guerrilla fighter was killed by a chemical weapons attack by the Turkish army in the Werxelê resistance area in Avaşîn region of guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq).

Announcing the death of Têkoşer Zagros, whose real name was Erhan Şahin, HPG said, “The Turkish occupation army is getting nowhere in the face of the resistance of the Kurdistan guerrillas and is stuck. It uses all technical means and committed another war crime on October 10, 2021 by massively bombing the Werxelê resistance area with chemical weapons and poisonous gases. In this vile attack of the fascist Turkish state, our companion Têkoşer fell a martyr.”

At the Werxelê mountain massif in Southern Kurdistan, five fighters were killed by poison gas on October 5. According to HPG figures, 38 guerrilla fighters have been killed by chemical weapons attacks since the beginning of the year.

HPG announced the identity of Têkoşer Zagros as follows:

Nom de Guerre: Têkoşer Zagros
First-Last Name: Erhan Şahin
Birthplace: Hakkari
Mother’s-Father’s Name: Behiye – Halit
Date and Place of Martyrdom: 10 October 2021 / Avaşîn

Têkoşer Zagros was born in the province of Hakkari and grew up in a patriotic family. As a result, he learned about the Kurdish liberation movement at an early age. The family lived under difficult conditions and Têkoşer Zagros contributed to their livelihood through various activities. HPG pointed out that many revolutionary militants had already emerged from the Şahin family, and Têkoşer continued this tradition. His younger brother Erdal Şahin fought in the resistance for self-determination in 2015/2016 and was burned alive in one of the death cellars in Cizre, Şırnak. Têkoşer previously studied in Izmir and was active in the Kurdish youth movement. During this period he was arrested and imprisoned several times. In 2015, he joined the guerrillas. He stayed in the mountains for a long time in the Zagros and developed into a professional fighter of the modern guerrillas. When the Turkish invasion of Southern Kurdistan began in April 2021, Têkoşer actively participated in the resistance. In Werxelê, he was involved in many creative actions against the occupying forces.

HPG expressed their condolences to the Şahin family, the people of Hakkari and the Kurdish people, adding, “Just as Comrade Têkoşer carried on Martyr Erdal’s struggle without hesitation, we as his companions will carry on the legacy of our martyrs with the same determination and carry it to victory.”

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