Father from Nuthetal mourns his son: Held in the fight for Kurdistan

Father from Nuthetal mourns his son: Held in the fight for Kurdistan

In a quiet part of the Nuthetal Friedwald, Hans-Ulrich Panser buried his son Michael in thought in a beech with a boulder. This series of trees is not an ordinary place; Here the memory of Michael Panser is kept alive, which died on December 14, 2018 in a bomb attack by the Turkish army in Northern Iraq. The 30-year-old was a passionate fighter for the Kurdish cause and is described by his father as a "truth searcher". Money never played a role for Michael; He had a good hands for music and literature much more.

raised in Potsdam, he developed a passion for playing different instruments early on; Michael was a supporting support in his band and enthusiastic about the opportunity to express himself artistically. His connection to the Kurdish areas began in 2011 when he first traveled to northern Syria to get to know the Kurdish autonomy movement. His commitment finally led him into the ranks of the self -defense unit HPG, where he combined his ideals with the reality of the war region.

a hero of the movement

On a December Saturday, over 150 people gathered in Potsdam to commemorate Michael Panser. Friends recognized him as a hero of the Kurdish movement. At the commemoration, a video was shown that showed a Kurdish family in Rojava who sang for him. His life story is not only recorded in the memories of his relatives, but also in the political texts that he left. These texts reflect the responsibility of European youth for the Kurdish Revolution, which has gave a home since 2013 numerous German fighters.

The Kurdish movement, which combines a backbone of the right and left -wing idea, has developed from its Orthodox Marxsitic root to socialist approaches that include feminist and ecological ideals. In Rojava, where many are involved in Germany, women's rights and democratic participation are in the foreground. Projects such as Jinwar, a Frauendorf, bloom here and attract activist spirits who fight for transformation and social justice. Jiyan Bengî, a friend of Michael, is an example of this new generation that is involved in the medical field on the Kurdish front.

a lasting legacy

The reaction to Michael Panser's death shows both the tragedies and the hopes of emerging from the conflict. Every year Hans-Ulrich receives election notifications for his son, who could never go home, which he wanted so long. "He was formally declared dead in April 2025," explains the father. Despite all the privation, the memories of Michael remained alive, and his friends regularly visit the father to show that his struggle will not be forgotten.

The father had the name of his son written on a blackboard on the beech in the Friedwald, and one day he plans to find his last rest there. In the memorial celebrations and the quiet moments under the boulder it is the fights and love of freedom that Michael Panser keep alive. He is always seen as an example of courage and commitment in the community of those who stand up for a better world.

The developments in Rojava and the fate of Michael Panser have mobilized numerous people in Germany, and many recognize the responsibility that they have towards these brave fighters. The Kurdish Revolution and the associated ideals are not only topics for discussions, they are also a call to solidarity in the sense of taz, Rosalux and the people inspired by their fight everywhere. Encounters that are also well received in German left shape the discussion about peace and captivity in the complex political situations of this part of the world.