Mehdi Zana, Kurdish Politician and Former Mayor of Diyarbakır, Dies at 85

Early Life

Mehdi Zana was born Mehdi Bilici on December 20, 1940, in Silvan, Turkey. He attended local elementary school before beginning his career as a tailor in a shop owned by Niyazi Tatlıcı, a prominent Kurdish intellectual. His early exposure to political thought led him to adopt the surname Zana, the Kurdish equivalent of his birth name, as a statement of his identity.

Career and Accomplishments

Zana became a significant figure in Kurdish political activism in Turkey. In 1963, he joined the Workers Party of Turkey (TİP) and eventually served as the head of its Silvan branch. In December 1977, he achieved a historic milestone by being elected as the first independent socialist mayor of Diyarbakır. His tenure was marked by his vocal advocacy for Kurdish rights, which drew significant opposition from the state. Following the 1980 Turkish coup d'état, Zana was arrested and spent a total of 16 years imprisoned throughout his life, enduring periods of severe hardship and participating in multiple hunger strikes to protest prison conditions. After his release in 1995, he continued his advocacy work, including accepting the Sakharov Prize in 1996 on behalf of his wife, Leyla Zana.

Notable Works

Zana was an author who documented his experiences and the Kurdish struggle. His notable works include Sevgili Leyla: uzun bir sürgündü o gece (1995), which reflects on his life and memories.

Personal Life and Legacy

Zana was married to fellow politician Leyla Zana since 1975, and the couple had two children. Following his release from prison, he lived in exile for several years in Sweden and Germany before returning to Turkey in 2004. He passed away on August 29, 2026, in a hospital where he had been receiving treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He is remembered as a symbol of political courage and a steadfast voice for the Kurdish people.