Kurdish writer Mehmed Uzun, the first author to write modern novels in Kurdish and thus introduce the language to the literary world, died on 11 October in Diyarbakir. He had been receiving treatment for stomach cancer.

His funeral took place on Saturday, 13 October, with tens of thousands people attending.  

His coffin was first taken from the hospital to Dagkapi square, and from there to the Ulu mosque. The procession was joined by many politicians of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), by the Diyarbakir mayor Osman Baydemir and the other Kurdish mayors of the region, as well as human rights and peace activists.

Speeches by Kemal, Türk, Elci and Baydemir 

There were also representatives from Sweden, where Uzun had lived in exile for around 20 years, and from Greece. When the procession ended at the Ulu mosque, people walked past his coffin one by one to say farewell. It was Mehmed Uzun’s last will that three men speak at his funeral: writer Yasar Kemal, who is of Kurdish origin but writes in Turkish, and who has been a long-time friend, DTP parliamentary group leader Ahmet Türk, and chair of the Participatory Democracy Party (KADEP), Serafettin Elci. Mayor Osman Baydemir also spoke.

Kemal: There will be peace 

Yasar Kemal described Uzun’s heritage as coming from Kurdish bard Ahmedê Xani, the 17th century author of the “Mem and Zin” legend, and poets Feqiye Teyran and Evdalê Zeynike. Kemal added that Uzun had always supported peace:

“What ever happens, whoever tries to stop it, Turkey will have peace. There is no reason for this conflict to continue. Soon this war will end in peace and Mehmed will rest in peace.”

Kemal also drew attention to Uzun’s important role as the creator of the modern Kurdish novel:

“This language will continue to develop after Mehmed. Novels mean culture. Mehmed created the Kurdish novel. I am of Kurdish origin, but I am not a Kurdish writer. Mehmed is.”

Baydemir: Continue to carry the flag 

Osman Baydemir, who spoke in Kurdish, also recounted Uzun’s heritage of Kurdish literature, listing names such as Elî Heriri, Ehmedê Xani, Cigerxwin, Hejar, Hemin, Celadet, Osman Sabri, Erebê Semo and Yasar Kemal: “The flag which he took from [them] is now in your hands.”

He added: “We send him to be with Musa Anter [a Kurdish intellectual assassinated in 1992], Vedat Aydin [a People’s Labour Party Diyarbakir province chair kidnapped and killed in 1991] and Orhan Dogan [former DEP politician and Kurdish activist, died 2007].”

After the speeches, the coffin was taken to the cemetery and Uzun was buried. There were prayers and Kurdish poems, as well as a song sung by Kurdish singer Ferhat Tunc.

A pomegranate sapling from Uzun’s village had been brought to the graveyard and was planted next to Uzun’s grave.

Mehmed Uzun leaves a wife and two children. (Gün TV/TK/AG)