A delegation including Co-Chairs of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Keskin Bayındır and Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar, along with Co-Chair of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Tuncer Bakırhan, has been on a visit to southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) for three days to attend the conference of the Socialist Democratic Alliance in the Arab World in the city of Sulaymaniyah.
The delegation today visited the grave of Jalal Talabani, a.k.a Mam Jalal (Uncle Jalal), the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and former head of state of Iraq, who lost his life in 2017. The Kurdish politician struggled against Iraq’s dictatorial regime as a guerrilla for decades and survived brutal attacks by Saddam Huseyin in the 1990s.
Speaking after the visit, Tuncer Bakırhan said that Mam Jalal fought not only for the South but for all four parts of Kurdistan. He noted that Talabani was a close friend of Abdullah Öcalan and that they worked together for the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people.
Bakırhan also commented on the ongoing peace process in Turkey, stating that the process is progressing slowly but surely. He said that they have confidence in their people.
“The peace process is Turkey’s last chance, and all our efforts are aimed at ensuring its success,” said Bakırhan, adding that the state’s “one state, one nation” messages are not serving the process.