President Masoud Barzani Mourns Passing of Turkish Politician and Peace Advocate Sırrı Süreyya Önder
President Masoud Barzani, the president of Kurdistan Democratic Prty (KDP), expressed deep sorrow over the death of Sırrı Süreyya Önder, a prominent Turkish politician, peace activist, and former Deputy Speaker of the Turkish Parliament.
In an official statement released on Saturday, Barzani described Önder as a "respected political and cultural figure" who dedicated his life to advocating for peaceful solutions to the Kurdish issue in Turkey.
"Önder was a key member of the Imrali delegation and spent much of his life striving for peace in Turkey," Barzani said. "His relentless efforts earned him great respect among those who seek peace and dialogue."
Barzani extended his condolences to Önder’s family, friends, colleagues, and members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), the pro-Kurdish leftist party with which Önder was closely associated.
"I share in their grief," Barzani stated. "May God grant him mercy and eternal peace in paradise, and may He give patience and solace to all who mourn his loss."
The statement concluded with the Islamic phrase, "Indeed, we belong to God, and indeed to Him we will return."
Sırrı Süreyya Önder, a leading voice for Kurdish rights and a key figure in Turkish politics, passed away at the age of 63 on Saturday. According to Turkish media reports, Önder had been hospitalized at Florence Nightingale Hospital in Istanbul after suffering a sudden heart attack on April 15. Despite undergoing surgery and intensive care, he experienced multiple organ failure and two cardiac arrests before succumbing to his condition at 4:10 PM.
Born in 1962 in Adıyaman (Semsur), a Kurdish-majority province in southeastern Turkey, Önder studied political science at Ankara University. He later became a journalist, filmmaker, and screenwriter, using his platform to advocate for social justice.
Önder rose to political prominence as a member of the HDP, representing Istanbul in the Turkish Parliament after the 2023 elections. He served as Deputy Speaker of Parliament and led the HDP parliamentary group.
A pivotal figure in the 2013–2015 peace process between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Önder remained actively involved in efforts to revive dialogue in recent years. His legacy as both a politician and an artist made him a widely respected figure across Turkey’s political and ethnic spectrum.
His death has drawn widespread condolences from political leaders, activists, and cultural figures, underscoring his enduring impact on Turkey’s struggle for peace and equality.
