Seyit Evran, one of Özgür Basın's employees who lost his life at the age of 54 in the hospital in North and East Syria on 22 September 2023, was told by his colleagues and friends on the anniversary of his death. 

 

Speaking about Evran, whom she met in the Federated Kurdistan Region in 2004, Helîn Asmîn stated that it was her duty to remember and tell about him and said: "His search for truth and freedom was an example for everyone. He was a man of letters and a journalist. Whichever side of him we tell will be incomplete. His life was a quest. Everywhere he went, he started a quest." 

 

Helîn Asmîn stated that Evran worked as a journalist in four parts of Kurdistan, that he aimed to establish a press army, and that he established a Press Academy in Rojava and trained hundreds of students. "Heval Seyit was a teacher in the press and a friend in life," she said.

 

She added: "We went up to Aleppo Castle together and he opened his hands saying 'Breathe in the wind of freedom'. He loved Aleppo very much. He was a piece of history. As his comrades in struggle, we will follow their path against all difficulties. We will not stop until we realise the ideals they dream of."

 

 

DÎLAN DÎLOK: HE WAS WITH PEOPLE ALWAYS

 

Stating she met with Evran in 2015 at Press Academy in North and East Syria said that Seyit Evran was a teacher in every part of life. Stressing that Evran was the memory of Free Press Dîlan Dîlok said that everyone who knew him loved him.

 

She said: "Everyone from 7 to 70 loved him, because he was someone who touched everyone. We rarely saw him sitting at a desk. He was always in the public. As his students, we are trying to be worthy of him. His endeavour to convey the struggle of the people to everyone was great. He was based on the philosophy of 'forgetting is betrayal'. We won't forget him either."

 

LAVA IBRAHIM: STILL SHOWING US THE WAY

 

Lava İbrahim, one of Evran's students, said that Evran was a seeker of truth and that he paid a great price for this cause. Lava İbrahim said that Evran knew every inch of Rojava very well and noted that Evran made them love the profession of journalism.  

 

Lava İbrahim added: "Two years have passed, but I still have the notes from the training he gave us and I go back and look at them. He is still guiding us. After his martyrdom, some people recognised him and joined Özgür Basın. After his martyrdom, he grew the Free Press. I am glad we became his students. We will protect the legacy he left us in his last message until the end."

 

NÛR HESEN: WE WILL WALK ON THE PATH HE SHOWED US

 

Nûr Hesen stated that he met Evran at the press academy where he received training 3 years ago. He concluded: "He worked in four parts of Kurdistan. He was a popular friend. He was older, but he was always among the young. He was a child with children. He was a school for me. It is impossible to forget him. When we first met, he asked me for my promise that I would work for the Free Press. I am renewing that promise now. We will walk on the path he showed us. His photo is next to us in every work we do. We will not forget and we will not let him be forgotten."

 

MA / Emrullah Acar