Mahir Koç more commonly known under his nickname Celal Başkale was a Kurdish commander of the Kurdistan Workers' Party,[1] a militant organization that has been fighting the government of Turkey for autonomy for Kurdish people, since 1984.[2] It is recognized as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States[3] and the European Union.[4]
Mahir Koç | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Celal Başkale |
| Died | April 14, 2012 Amasya, Turkey |
| Allegiance |  Kurdistan Workers' Party |
| Rank | Black Sea Region commander |
| Battles / wars | Kurdish–Turkish conflict, Reşadiye shooting |
Başkale started out as a bodyguard for Fehman Hûseyn (Bahoz Erdal),[1] who is the head of the Hezen Parastina Gel (HPG), the PKK's armed wing[5] and later rose to become the commander of all PKK operations in the Black Sea Region.[1]
On December 7, 2009, he led seven PKK guerrillas in an ambush against 15 Turkish commandos known as the Reşadiye shooting or Tokat assault.[6] Seven of the commandos were killed and three were injured.[7]
On April 11, 2012, two Turkish soldiers were killed in a PKK ambush near Çiğdemlik. In response the Turkish military started a large-scale operation against the PKK throughout Amasya Province. Celal Başkale was killed by Turkish forces along with another PKK militant on April 14.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d PKK's Black Sea commander killed in operation
- ^ BBC Kurdish MP in Turkey abducted 'by PKK', August 12, 2012
- ^ Foreign Terrorist Organizations
- ^ European Union List of Terrorist Organisations, Council of the European Union, updated Council Decision 2011/70/CFSP of 31 January 2011
- ^ Jamestown Leading PKK Commander Cemil Bayik Crosses into Iran
- ^ Hürriyet PKK claims responsibility for Tokat assault, December 10, 2009
- ^ Hürriyet Between hearts and minds, December 8, 2009