Switzerland (AIL): İbrahim Kaypakkaya was commemorated with great enthusiasm in Zurich, accompanied by slogans of the revolutionary struggle and the spirit of internationalism

İbrahim Kaypakkaya was commemorated with great enthusiasm in Zurich, accompanied by slogans of the revolutionary struggle and the spirit of internationalism

On Sunday 17 May, the city of Zurich in Switzerland hosted a significant gathering. Organised by Partizan to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the assassination of TKP/ML founder and communist leader İbrahim Kaypakkaya, and to keep his memory alive in the struggle for revolution, socialism and communism, the memorial event under the slogan “Following in KAYPAKKAYA’s footsteps on the path to liberation against liquidationism” was attended by hundreds of people.

The commemoration event began with an opening speech on behalf of Partizan; in memory of the communist leader Kaypakkaya, who became immortal in May, as well as Deniz Gezmis, Yusuf Aslan, Hüseyin İnan, Sinan Cemgil, the 1 May martyrs, Haki Karer, who became immortal in the Amed prisons in May, and the martyrs of the Kurdish National Movement, TKP/ML 3rd General Secretary Kazım Çelik and his comrades who fell as martyrs alongside him, the TKP/ML cadre and TİKKO commander Armenak Orhan Bakır, and TMLGB cadre member İsmail Oral; and with a moment of silence in honour of those who have become immortal in the struggle in Turkey, Turkish Kurdistan and throughout the world.

The minute’s silence concluded with the slogans: “The martyrs of the revolution are immortal!” and “Our leader Ibrahim, Ibrahim Kaypakkaya!”
Following the minute’s silence, the crowd stood and joined in with the marches performed by Grup Şiar, supporting them with slogans and applause.

Following the minute’s silence, a message from the Central Committee of the TKP/ML was read out. The message was frequently met by the crowd with slogans such as “Long live our Party, the TKP/ML, and the People’s Army TİKKO-TMLGB”, “Our Leader İbrahim, İbrahim Kaypakkaya” and “From İbrahim to Mehmet, greetings to the Party”.

The audiovisual presentation, prepared by Partizan Media, which featured excerpts from the history of Kaypakkaya and his party’s struggle—including footage from the countryside, cities, factories, streets, prisons, squares, guerrilla warfare, resistance, and the struggles of women and the people—was watched with interest and received widespread acclaim

During the cultural segment of the evening, the Kurdish ballads and folk songs performed by Ali Geçimli (Agirê Jiyan), the revolutionary marches performed by Grup Şiar, and the crowd rising to their feet to sing the march ‘I Will Not Forget 18 May’ together brought the excitement to a fever pitch.
The crowd enthusiastically joined in with cheers and applause as Grup Mengene—which included Barış Atay—performed folk songs, rebellion marches and Arabic songs.
A message of solidarity was sent to the artists who had been previously announced for the programme but were unable to attend due to various state obstacles, visa barriers and bans.

Throughout the event, slogans such as “Long live our party, the TKP/ML!”, “The people’s army, TİKKO!”, “TMLGB!”, “Our leader İbrahim, İbrahim Kaypakkaya!”, “The martyrs of the revolution are immortal!”, “Long live international solidarity!”, “Guerrillas never die, long live the people’s war!”, and “A thousand salutes to those who have fallen and those who fight!” were shouted out en masse and with great enthusiasm.

Interest in the Commemoration Evening from revolutionary organisations was also high. Alongside messages from the International Communist Union (EKB), the Anti-Imperialist League (AIL) and the Communist Party of Brazil (P.C.B.), and a speech by the French Communist Youth organisation, there were messages from revolutionary organisations in Turkey and Turkish Kurdistan, including the MLKP Switzerland, Messages of solidarity sent to the event by TKIP Switzerland, MKP Switzerland, Xeta Sor, PDD, FEDA, Revolutionary Headquarters Europe, Revolutionary Communist Councils, and the resisters on hunger strike at Prosfigika in Athens were also read out. Following the messages, the crowd chanted the slogan “Long Live Revolutionary Solidarity”.

The call by the Antiimperialist League (AIL) European Coordination for a protest against the G7 imperialist summit in Geneva on Sunday 14 June was announced to the crowd, and all revolutionary sections and comrades were called upon to join the action.

The event, which lasted nearly five hours, concluded successfully with the recitation of the Partizan oath.

AHM Zurich

17 May 2026