Two funeral ceremonies from two Turkeys

On May 4, 2025, two funerals were held from two cities, two mosques, and two funeral biers.

In Istanbul, at the Levent Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha Mosque, the funeral prayer for DEM Party MP and Deputy Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Sırrı Süreyya Önder was held with the full attendance of the state's top leadership. Following the funeral prayer, the DEM MP was laid to rest at the Zincirlikuyu Cemetery accompanied by slogans in support of the terrorist organization.

In Afyonkarahisar, a modest funeral ceremony was held in the village of Çobanözü, in the Sinanpaşa district—the hometown of Combat Specialist Sergeant Önder Özen, who was martyred by a PKK landmine in the Claw-Lock operation region of Northern Iraq. After the prayer held in the courtyard of the Çobanözü Primary School, the martyred soldier was laid to rest in the family cemetery.

In Istanbul, before the funeral prayer, a message from the prisoner at İmralı was read to applause during the ceremony held at the Atatürk Cultural Center.

In the village of Çobanözü, the martyr was greeted with a military salute by his mother and older brother as he was brought to his home to seek final blessings. As the martyr's father's photograph was being pinned to his chest, his 4-year-old daughter Alya called out, “The pin is pricking my father. Let's pin it from the side so it doesn't prick him.”

While bidding farewell to his martyred son, father Hasan Özen said, “May the homeland be blessed. My son gave his life for these lands. I am pleased with you, may God be pleased with you too. May everyone grant their forgiveness.” Mother Havva embraced her daughter-in-law Yeşim, saying, "Don't cry, my daughter. You are my martyr's legacy to me. I am by your side until I die. You are under my wings."

Afyonkarahisar is the place where, 103 years ago, the invading Greek army was defeated during the August 26 Great Offensive and the August 30 Battle of the Commander-in-Chief. It is sacred ground, witness to a great victory, where many martyrs were given for the sake of freedom and independence.

Önder Özen gave his life to prevent the realization of the imperialism-backed project of a Turkey without the Euphrates, without the Tigris, without the GAP (Southeastern Anatolia Project), and a regional puppet Kurdistan.

Let us conclude our article with the statement from the Ministry of National Defense, which serves as a pathetic snapshot of a Turkey where the regime has overturned state traditions, institutionalism, and memory.

"Our heroic comrade-in-arms, Combat Specialist Sergeant Önder Özen, who was wounded as a result of stepping on a mine/IED during search and clearance activities conducted in the Claw (Hakurk) operation region in northern Iraq, was immediately taken to the hospital, but despite all interventions, he could not be saved and was martyred on May 3, 2025. We wish God's mercy upon our dear martyr who lost his life in this incident that has plunged us into deep pain and sorrow; we extend our condolences and patience to his grieving family, the Turkish Armed Forces, and our noble nation," it was stated.

While the government and opposition alike engage in praise for Sırrı Süreyya, the fact that the Ministry of National Defense has evaporated the definition of "separatist terrorist organization" in its martyr announcements ahead of a second 'opening' period, effectively recording the martyr's killing in the book of unsolved crimes, will undoubtedly be etched into memory as a shameful photograph of today's Turkey!