Mahsum Korkmaz

Mahsum Korkmaz, also known as Ağit (1956 – 28 March 1986), was the first commander of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)'s military forces.[1] Korkmaz moved to Lebanon in 1979 and alongside Kemal Pîr was responsible for the recruitment across Turkey. He is known to have led the 15 August 1984 PKK attacks which was the start of the PKK's armed rebellion for Kurdish independence.[2] He was killed by Turkish forces on 28 March 1986.[3]

Mahsum Korkmaz
Nickname(s)Agit
Born1956
Silvan, Diyarbakir, Turkey
Died28 March 1986(1986-03-28) (aged 29–30)
Mount Gabar, Şırnak, Turkey
Allegiance Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
Years of service1978 – 28 March 1986
RankMilitary Commander
Battles/wars1982 Lebanon War
Kurdish–Turkish conflict

The PKK's main training facility during the 1980s and early 1990s, the Mahsum Korkmaz Academy, which was located in Lebanon's Beqaa Valley was named after him.[4] Today, Mahsum Korkmaz is honored in the form of many commemoration days by the Kurdish Movement. In Lice a statue of Korkmaz was erected in a cemetery on 15 August 2014, the 30th anniversary of the 15 August 1984 attack. The statue was subsequently demolished by Turkish authorities.[5] The PKK denied it had ordered to erect the statue in Lice.[6] On 28 March 2017 a statue of Korkmaz was erected in Kobanî.[7]

Preceded by
Post Created		 Military Commander of the PKK
1980–1986		 Succeeded by
Cemil Bayık

References
  1. Gunter, M.M. (1997). The Kurds and the Future of Turkey. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 35. ISBN 9780312172657. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  2. DeRouen, K.R.; Heo, U. (2007). Civil Wars of the World: Major Conflicts Since World War II. 1. ABC-CLIO. p. 780. ISBN 9781851099191. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  3. Gunes, Cengiz (11 January 2013). The Kurdish National Movement in Turkey: From Protest to Resistance. Routledge. pp. pp.111, 118. ISBN 978-1-136-58798-6.CS1 maint: extra text (link) CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. "Statue of PKK Founder, People Attacked in Lice". Bianet. 19 August 2014.
  5. "Kurd shot dead in clash over statue with Turkish forces". Reuters. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  6. "PKK denies it erected the controversial statue in Diyarbakır". DailySabah. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  7. "Legendary Commander Egîd's statue erected in Kobanê". ANF News. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
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