The political leadership of the Kurdistan Region has roundly condemned the killing of prominent Syrian Kurdish politician and activist Mashaal Tammo in Syria on Friday October 7.

The killing of Mr Tammo is part of a campaign throughout Syriaagainst peaceful protesters who are demanding more freedoms and political reform from the one-party Ba’athist government that has been in power for over 40 years.

The office of the President of the Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani, issued a press release stating, ‘The Kurdistan Region Presidency strongly condemns the assassination of Mashaal Tammo and believes that the Kurdish people living in the Kurdish areas of Syria have thus far demanded their legitimate rights through democratic and peaceful means, despite being subjected on numerous occasions to intimidation and unprovoked violence.’

The Kurdistan Parliament also issued a statement of condemnation, which said, ‘At a time when we see the winds of democracy in the Middle East and the region bring down a number of totalitarian regimes, bringing in hope for better human rights and freedoms, it is with regret that we see the leaders of Syria acting against this trend by resorting to violence and repression in order to silence the popular opposition. This violence increases day after day and sadly resulted in the killing of Mashaal Tammo in Qamishlo.’

The office of the Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Barham Salih also condemned the attack. ‘We strongly condemn the assassination of Mashaal Tammo and consider the quelling of the legitimate demands of the Syrian people as a whole and the Kurdish people in particular illegal and ask Syrian officials to deal peacefully with those demanding freedom.’

It is within the context of these events that Prime Minister Salih received Faris Tammo, son of the late Mashaal Tammo, in his office today. Prime Minister Salih conveyed his condolences to the family of the late martyr and told Faris Tammo that his father is another symbol in the peaceful struggle by Kurds to gain their freedoms and coexist peacefully with others.

Mashaal Tammo was born in 1958. He was the leader and spokesman of the Kurdish Future Movement. He was imprisoned from 2008 to 2010. He was popular among Syrians of all ethnicities and sects, his speeches focusing on a better life for all Syrian people. His vision for Syria was based on secular democracy, rotation of power, the rule of law and equality between citizens. He was mourned in many Arab-majority parts of Syria, in particular in Homs and Hama where huge crowds gathered to mourn his loss.