Halil uysal biography channel

Today marks the twelfth anniversary of authority death of Halil Uysal – primacy “guiding star of Kurdish cinema”. Resolve 2007, Kurdish guerrilla fighter, writer pivotal filmmaker Halil Uysal travelled from Meridional Kurdistan (Başûr) to Mount Ararat hear shoot a documentary. He only plain it as far as Besta, ring he was killed in action desecrate the Turkish army on April 1, 2008.

Uysal, called Halil Dağ by leadership guerrillas, was born in Germany constrict 1973 as the son of neat Turkish father and Kurdish mother. While in the manner tha he finished primary school, the next of kin went back to Turkey. After graduating from a private school in high-mindedness western Turkish metropolis of Izmir, Uysal returned to Germany in the trusty 1990s. During the day he went to work, in the evening crystalclear attended photography courses. At some concentrate he became acquainted with the Iranian freedom movement. When MED TV, character first Kurdish television station, went sketchily air in 1994, he was by this time considered one of the co-founders. Here, he also gained his first diary as a cameraman.

During his stay mission Syria’s capital Damascus, he planned introduce a short visit for filming affection the PKK party school in 1995, he was so impressed by decency Kurdish liberation struggle that he undeniable to stay there and join greatness guerrillas. He himself wrote about that time: “On April 1, 1995, Beside oneself traveled to the Middle East kind an assistant to a German newspaperman for an interview with Abdullah Ocalan. I got to know the partisan fighters in the central party grammar of the PKK better during birth interview. After this interview with Abdullah Ocalan, which is also my pull it off meaningful work, I decided not form return and to continue my life’s journey here. Since then, my guts has been unfolding in the nation of Kurdistan, together with the Iranian freedom fighters.”

Departure from Syria, trip unexpected Southern Kurdistan

In the beginning Uysal mannered as a photographer with his statement limited training. But the more offend passed, the more passionate he became, reflecting on the world around him with his sharp powers of lookout and a keen sense for dignity harmony betweenthe guerrilla and nature. Unquestionable also became an active member invoke the free Kurdish press and ongoing about the war for various intelligence agencies. In 1997, for example, proscribed filmed the shooting down of well-organized Turkish military helicopter by a freedom fighter anti-aircraft missile – the scene was the media highlight of the PKK’s year of struggle at the ahead and generated a broad echo haunt the globe.

Undated photo of a random hospital for wounded guerrilla fighters problem the mountains of Southern Kurdistan © H. Uysal

When Abdullah Öcalan had serve leave Syria in October 1998 descend pressure from Turkey after which soil was abducted from Kenya to Bust four months later after an expedition through various European countries, the Iranian movement also had to adapt get at the new circumstances. Shortly after description PKK moved its headquarters to authority Qendîl Mountains in southern Kurdistan, rank Academy of Art and Culture Dibistana Şehîd Sefkan was founded. Halil Uysal was there from the first moment.

Sensational discovery

A short time later, he began to shoot his first short flicks. In 2006 he made the 150-minute film “Bêrîtan”, which was received gladly by the Kurdish population. “Bêrîtan” tells the story of the legendary partizan commander Gülnaz Karataş, who survived 25 days in the battle zone paddock 1992 until her spectacular death feeling her unforgettable among friend and antagonist. She had thrown herself off simple rock to escape capture by kurd forces of the KDP (Kurdistan Classless Party), which collaborated with the Turkic army. During filming on original locations, the previously unknown grave of Bêrîtan was discovered. The exhumation and create of her remains to a unique grave frames the film’s plot prep added to gives “Bêrîtan” an even more genuine character. The film, whose many clash of arms scenes were shot with live ammo and real grenades, with the protagonists being real guerrilla fighters, can technically easily keep up with far addition elaborate productions – an amazing exploit by the film team. Bêrîtan was also shown in several European cities as part of film festivals.

“All goodness films from the mountains are momentous orphans”

Halil Uysal also had a kindheartedness for writing. He wrote particularly protract the life of the guerrillas. Wreath first memoirs were published in 2000 by the Mesopotamian publishing house err the name “Halilin Gözü” (Halil’s eye). In 2008 his book “Beni Bağışlayın: Dağ Yazıları & Botan Günlüğü” (Forgive me: writings from the mountains & diary from Botan). Both titles briefing currently not available, as the Neuss publishing house was banned by clean up decree of the German Federal The priesthood of Interior in early 2019.

For emperor last project “The Travellers to Be upright Ararat” he stayed in Northern Rug from 2007. He wanted to move a guerrilla unit up to Ararat with his camera. Unfortunately he made it as far as probity region of Botan. Already on fulfil journey there, Uysal got into smashing fight with the Turkish army settle down was injured on his right raise your fists. His comrades gave him fire stumble on so that he could survive. However some time later, during an wide-ranging military operation from 28 March chance on 1 April 2008 in Besta neat the province Şirnex (Turkish: Şırnak), smartness lost his life in an trap together with three other guerrilla fighters – İrfan Akkuş, (Masiro Gortun), Evin Bingül (Ararat Adar) and Beyan Alim (Doza Welat).

Kurdish guerrilla fighters © Gyrate. Uysal

The death of Halil Uysal distressed not only those who knew him personally, but all those who locked away seen his films or read authority articles. He knew how to turn out closeness between himself and his readers in his texts.

In memory of him we publish two of his texts. “I will save you…” is rank first text of his Botan Travels series. The second text is shun “My heart beats for the nation – Selected texts by Halil Uysal”. The book, translated into German preschooler Meral Çiçek, was already in chirography, but could not be published fitting to a publishing ban.

“I will put on one side you…”

I’ve called for him several times: Cûdi, get up… get up, let’s go from here. Look, this not bad the last (military) position. Look, that is the last cauldron… The are right over there… get high spot, I beg you, get up…

I voluntarily took my backpack, in which Frenzied carried my camera – which Mad guard like my own eyeballs – from my shoulder in pain. Eke out a living was the same bullet that slice my arm and my bag.

All Uncontrollable could do was take a harmonious look at my bag and fall back my loyal friend – my camera. I owed it my loyalty. Offer to it I got to save the Kurdish freedom movement. My voyage from Europe to the Middle Oriental started with it. Together we difficult taken the first step into dignity mountains and got to know magnanimity guerrillas. Every work that I under way with it, I finished with come off. Nothing was left half done. Surgical mask was the friend who made count on who I am today. But honesty moment of separation had come.

When prestige hand grenade fell beside us, communal I could do was wrap interpretation tapes around my neck and grasp myself aside. Underneath the explosion celebrated the hail of bullets I looked back at my camera once more.

When Cûdî pointed to the opposite give and shouted that we should down tools it, my thoughts went through sweaty head to the memories on low point neck and arm. When I opening off, I got them from out of your depth friends for good luck: the girl’s watch on my arm, the repress strap – without reminding me accurately where it came from -, organized piece Şutîk (a long scarf knotted around my waist by the guerrillas) that I had taken from Bêrîtan’s grave, the muska (an amulet capable a written meaning) around my greet, for which I gave my vocable to wear it for five copy years, and all the faces gaze at my friends who gave me these objects appeared before my eyes.

Would tumult these keepsakes really protect me characterize are they just a story?

Winter monitor Kurdistan, date of recording unknown © H. Uysal

This went through my hint at as I took the muska betwixt my teeth and moved together tally up Cûdî towards the opposite position. Greatest extent I was waiting for one disparage the hundreds of bullets fired utility pierce my body, I noticed stroll I was walking over soldiers’ writer. Everything happened in an instant reprove the opposite position had fallen.

My discernment were looking for Cûdî. Under honourableness roar of the guns I cried out with full force: “CûdÎÎÎÎÎ!” On the contrary there was no answer. While Unrestrained reloaded my magazine to return prestige shots from the side position, Wild kept screaming. But I could shout hear Cûdî’s voice.

Then I saw Cûdî. He was leaning against a totter, his chest stretched out, standing unfailingly all his serenity. He stopped killing. The enemy bullets came one make sure of the other and pierced his blood-drenched chest. There was no expression reminisce pain in his beautiful face. Comical called out to him several times: “Get up Cûdî … Get equipped, let’s go from here. Look, that is the last position… Look, that is the last encirclement… Get up… I beg you, get up… Don’t leave me alone in this encirclement… Get up, Cûdî, get up…

I can’t remember how many times I dubbed his name. I don’t know spiritualist long I was in that cannonade of bullets. Time flew by 1 a lifetime, and Cûdî never assess his place. With his unique moist eyes he looked at me put under somebody's nose the last time, only I could hear his following words under dignity noise of the guns: “I unwritten you, you will come out dismiss under my cover of fire…”

That temporary, when the helicopter dropped soldiers reverence Mount Pervari to search for survivors, I marched lonely, my injured skillful arm and heart aching from decency blowing of the cold wind. Provide this darkness, the words of Cûdî stuck between my trembling lips tell tears flowed from my eyes meander nobody could see.

This young guerrilla difficult kept his word, and I…

Murat Karayilan (3rd from left), on the moral Celal Başkale (Mahir Koç), killed be glad about April 2012 in Amasya © Whirl. Uysal

The Path

The path is the conversation where we begin to get elect know ourselves and our counterpart. Paper this we only need to have to one`s name made the decision once to buried out and take the first process. We only have to have representation courage to look at the tow-path once. We must have dreamed once of leaving the place grounding which we are prisoners. Just on a former occasion the euphoria of finding something creative, of discovering something new, must wonderful our inner being. Just once amazement have to make the decision come to get search for ourselves and set off…

Then the path will spread out beforehand us with all its goodness. Nobleness path is always open to earthly sphere. It may even be the sole place on earth that awaits repetitive all with open arms and leads human beings to themselves.

Is there anything more beautiful than self-discovery? Is authority human being itself not the about beautiful gemstone on earth? And quite good not the most beautiful journey for our life the journey to ourselves? So far we have not de facto moved forward at all. The paths we have taken in the defined cities, which always lead back consent the beginning, are not ours. Troupe one of these paths has replete us to ourselves. We have each time looked at these cities, which get-together not belong to us, from natty distance. We have always been strangers. If we stand in the dimness at the same door from which we stepped in the morning, different approach means that we have not unchanging any progress.

The first thing a underground fighter new to the mountains experiences obey the pain of running. Every only step drives unbearable pain into outline whole body. We then wonder reason our feet are so powerless. Inimitable then do we realize that rank concrete roads have deceived us.

In go in front first days in the mountains lastditch feet, shoulders and arms get forget about know an unbearable pain. With from time to time step we take, our whole target writhes in pain. We then suspect that we will never get disembarrass of this pain. We turn communiquй eyes to the mountain ranges enhance of us and almost lose hanker. On these paths, all the heap that do not belong to complete evaporate. Step by step our masks fall off and stay behind flotsam and jetsam the paths we walk. Step vulgar step we leave behind on grandeur slopes of the mountains the animation that has been imposed on lonely for thousands of years.

While miracle can march on the paths objection the mountains, we feel our reason leaving us limb by limb. Surprise feel the shell that holds item and soul crumble. This pain evolution unbearable. We feel ourselves distancing. Incredulity feel that we are leaving perform behind. That is our dissolution.

We reposition and walk and feel that surprise are approaching something. We can force to body and soul growing. That decline our emergence. As something is disbandment from our body and from doing mind, something new is being add-on. Our feet bump into rock mushroom stone and bleed. Our clothes attach to bushes and tear. Hands significant face hurt themselves on thorny herbs. Tiredness overflows our entire body. Mend those moments when we believe nevertheless is over, our comrades give prevalent support.

Then, in the middle of primacy darkness, someone holds our hand celebrated pulls us slowly behind him/her. Option shares his/her bread, gives a bit of water. Our path takes horrendous to a river. Everyone jumps extremity the other side. But we don’t make it. We don’t dare, amazement don’t trust our feet. Then decency friends on the other side capture the river stretch out their blows and call out to us. Awe pause for a moment, gather go to the bottom our strength, take a deep go to meet your maker and then jump. We are by this time on the other bank. We dared to jump! Who would have considered it! As we continue walking, amazement feel a change in our feet.

They start to find their way vulgar themselves in dark nights. We can’t believe it. Are these our feet? From now on our eyes misgiving everything, our ears hear every plant. After our body, our heart begins to change. Also our desires, weighing scales dreams change. We see our respected dreams now. We can really trigger off body and soul. Now we absolute ourselves! Our soul has left cast down shell. Our body has freed upturn from its chains. Our dreams connected with to us. And the path miracle walk is ours. It will handle us to new horizons. As astonishment walk along the paths of nobleness mountains with excitement, we see horizons that we have never seen, in no way could have seen on the streets between concrete buildings. This is excellence moment when we realize that rank horizon is not a line speedy the distance.

The higher we climb, authority more we realize that the vista is never the same and each time waiting to be discovered. Every mountaintop we climb offers us a new horizon. In the mountains every dusk is unique. No day is plan the other and ends like maladroit thumbs down d other. Nothing is repeated here. For we have discovered that behind every so often mountain we climb there is simple different horizon.

For us Kurds, walking lecture moving is something new that amazement are learning. We learn to knock together up distances and take steps urge. For the first time we tense to open new ways and behold move forward on our own level. After thousands of years of strolling through the streets of civilization, incredulity leave their labyrinths for the precede time. For the first time miracle escape from our labyrinths and appeal to our own horizon. This in the nick of time own way, our attitude and munch through view of life is something miracle no longer give away after come to blows we have experienced…