Kurdish politician Salih Muslim was laid to rest on Sunday in Kobanê with strong public participation. Thousands of people from Rojava, along with delegations from Northern and Southern Kurdistan, attended the funeral ceremony and accompanied Bavê Welat, a longstanding political figure of Western Kurdistan, on his final journey.
The funeral procession set off from the Council of Martyrs’ Families and proceeded to the Şehîd Dîcle Cemetery of Martyrs, where Muslim was laid to rest. Along the entire route, many people lined the streets to pay their last respects to the Kurdish politician. Nearly all shops remained closed in mourning, while large crowds gathered at the cemetery to receive the funeral procession. The coffin was draped with the flag of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), of which Muslim served for many years as co-chair, and was adorned with wreaths and flowers.
The funeral ceremony was attended by representatives and members of various political parties, civil society organizations, and institutions of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, as well as representatives of the SDF and all affiliated bodies. After the funeral procession arrived at the cemetery, the ceremony began with a moment of silence. Several political and social figures then delivered moving farewell speeches.
Bakırhan: He was a fighter for his people
Speaking on behalf of the delegation from Northern Kurdistan, Tuncer Bakırhan, co-chair of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), paid tribute to Salih Muslim as an outstanding political fighter of the Kurdish people. “On behalf of the people of Bakur, we extend our deepest condolences to his family and to the entire Kurdish people,” he said.
Bakırhan stated that he had personally known Salih Muslim and had experienced him as a determined revolutionary, politician, and tireless fighter. “Salih Muslim did not fight for personal interests but dedicated his entire life to the Kurdish people. He is a figure of Kurdistan,” Bakırhan said, adding: “We will realize his dreams.”
During the ceremony, a condolence message from Abdullah Öcalan to the family of Salih Muslim was also read. The statement was delivered by Aras Hiso.
Leyla Zana: We will carry forward the legacy he left
Kurdish politician Leyla Zana also delivered a speech and honored the legacy of Salih Muslim. She said that the hopes and ideals for which Salih Muslim fought would continue to guide the path toward freedom. Zana recalled that many generations of fighters had dedicated their lives so that the Kurdish people could reach this point today. “Either we live in freedom, or we do not live at all,” Zana said. She emphasized that the Kurdish struggle must continue with confidence.
Zana also recalled her conversations with Abdullah Öcalan and his concept of the “democratic nation.” Öcalan, she said, had emphasized years ago that the political realities of the world were changing and that the Kurds must prepare themselves for this transformation. Zana called for placing trust in Kurdish society and strengthening Kurdish unity. She stressed that peace in the region will not be possible without the Kurds. Zana pointed out that Salih Muslim had devoted his entire life to the cause of his people and always placed the well-being of society above personal interests. “I believe that we will build the future together. We will carry forward the legacy left by Comrade Salih,” she added.
Delegation from Southern Kurdistan calls for Kurdish unity
Speaking on behalf of a political delegation from Southern Kurdistan (Northern Iraq), Sardar Abdullah described it as a “great honor” to attend the funeral ceremony in Kobanê. “Kobanê has become a symbol of resistance. The victory over terrorism in the city had significance far beyond the region. Salih Muslim was part of this historic resistance and belonged to the generation of revolutionaries who have fought for the rights of the Kurdish people for decades,” he said.
Abdullah emphasized that Kurds in Southern Kurdistan and in Rojava have already achieved certain political rights. At the same time, he expressed hope that Kurds in Northern and Eastern Kurdistan would also attain their rights. “In the current phase in the Middle East, it is particularly important that political parties and social forces in all four parts of Kurdistan strengthen their ranks. A world that has long ignored the Kurds is now beginning to recognize their role. Therefore, Kurdish parties and their political leadership must unite their efforts,” Abdullah said.
Mazloum Abdi honors Muslim’s political legacy
The Commander-in-Chief of the SDF, Mazloum Abdi, also expressed his condolences to the family and paid tribute to the political legacy of Salih Muslim. He stated that Muslim had a long history of political struggle and had played an important role in all decisive phases during the years of the revolution in Rojava.
“Salih Muslim is part of the political history of Rojava,” Abdi said. “He fought against the Baath regime and continued his political engagement even under the most difficult conditions. He consistently worked for the unity of Kurdish forces and at the same time carried out significant diplomatic efforts. As a leading member of the PYD, he was part of the political movement in Rojava and was also active within the Syrian opposition. He is a witness to the political history of Rojava and today a martyr of the Kurdish freedom struggle,” Abdi said.
New political phase
Abdi also stated that the region has entered a new political phase. In this context, he referred to the agreement concluded in January with the Syrian transitional government in Damascus. The SDF and the Autonomous Administration are determined to implement the agreed points, he said, adding that it is now up to Damascus to take the necessary steps.
Among the central issues are the exchange of prisoners and the return of displaced people from Afrin and Serêkaniyê, Abdi stated. At the same time, he said, the administrative, political, and military particularity of the Kurdish regions must be preserved. Abdi recalled that the revolution began in 2012 in Kobanê and that the region has since gone through many difficult phases. Kurdish forces defended themselves against all attacks, he added.
“The new phase now requires stronger political and organizational preparation. Although some institutional designations may change as a result of the agreements, the fundamental military, administrative, and security structures will remain in place. In the future, the focus of the struggle will increasingly shift to the political and economic spheres. Our goal is for the Kurdish regions to become an example for all of Syria. We promise all our martyred comrades that we will continue to struggle for the freedom of our people,” Abdi said.
Closing words from the family
Eyşe Efendî, a member of the “Initiative for the Freedom of Abdullah Öcalan” and the wife of Salih Muslim, also spoke during the ceremony. She stated that her husband had a close relationship with Abdullah Öcalan and described his message as a great honor for the family. Efendî thanked everyone who attended the ceremony as well as those who supported Salih Muslim during his illness.
At the end of the ceremony, Salih Muslim’s certificate of death was handed over to the family. He was then laid to rest with the chant “Şehîd namirin” (Martyrs are immortal) next to his son Şervan Muslim, who was martyred in 2013 in the fight against ISIS in Girê Spî.
A great loss for the Kurdish people
Salih Muslim, a member of the PYD Presidential Council and one of the most influential political figures of the Kurdish movement in Rojava, passed away on 11 March at the age of 75 in a hospital in Southern Kurdistan due to kidney failure. With his passing, he leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered for a long time and, according to many of his companions, will remain part of the collective memory and the political struggle of the Kurdish people.
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