The Press and Media Centre of the Eastern Kurdistan Defense Units (YRK) commemorated Feraşîn Bêrîtan (Gerdenî Deman), who was martyred on 14 December 2023.
In a written statement, the YRK said, “On 14 December 2023, our commander and comrade Feraşîn Bêrîtan reached martyrdom while fulfilling her revolutionary duties, as a result of an airstrike carried out by the Turkish state.”
The statement emphasised that the martyrs are steadfast fighters who struggle for great ideals and are the true companions of President Öcalan, and continued with the following: “In the most difficult conditions, in times when many believed the enemy had taken everything in Kurdistan, our martyrs became the people’s self-sacrificing fighters and commanders. Through this struggle, which has continued for years, the history of the land of Kurdistan has grown, and a new life has been created. Our martyrs have become the greatest heroes, those who understood history and wrote epics unlike anything seen before. Turning the memories of our martyrs into the entirety of life is our fundamental duty.
In this framework, we state that living according to the testament of the martyrs is the essential and primary responsibility of revolutionary commitment. On this basis, in the person of our commander Feraşîn Bêrîtan, we renew our promise to all martyrs and reaffirm our commitment to the goals of a free life. We extend our condolences to the family of our esteemed martyr and to all the people of Kurdistan, and we reiterate our promise to fulfil their dreams.
The identity details of our fallen comrade are as follows:
Code name: Feraşîn Bêrîtan
Full name: Gerdenî Deman
Place of birth: Salmas (Selmas)
Mother–father’s names: Hanîfe – Cemîl
Date of martyrdom: 14 December 2023
Comrade Feraşîn Bêrîtan was born in 1989 in the city of Salmas, lying at the foothills of the Zagros Mountains in Eastern Kurdistan (Rojhilat), into a patriotic family. The majesty of the Zagros has long influenced the uprisings and hardships faced by the people, shaping the entire social fabric alongside them. In this region in particular, women hold strong, combative roles in the organisation of social life. Such places give rise to resistant and powerful personalities. For this reason, those who join the ranks of the freedom struggle develop rapidly; patriotism and attachment to the land are deeply rooted in the community. Comrade Feraşîn was the child of such a region.
At a very young age, she came face to face with the brutal face of the enemy, an experience that deepened her sense of vengeance. Because of this, she concluded that the truest path to freedom was the path of truth shown by President Öcalan, and on this basis, she joined the ranks of the freedom struggle in 2008.
From the day she joined until the moment of her martyrdom, she played important and fundamental roles in the struggle, both as a fighter and as a commander. Embracing President Öcalan’s line of comradeship, she spent every hour of her day in uninterrupted struggle. Through this dedication, she continuously developed herself, and by studying President Öcalan’s writings, she became one of the pioneering commanders of the new era. Throughout her fifteen years of struggle, she became a guide for her people and her comrades, a vanguard of the correct path, of equality and freedom.
As a fighter, Comrade Feraşîn always lived with the belief that the lands of Kurdistan, condemned to darkness for years, would one day inevitably return to the light. As a commander, she took upon herself the responsibility of realising this goal. For this reason, Comrade Feraşîn was one of the beloved and exemplary leading comrades admired by all. Through her intelligence, diligence and warmth, she inspired trust and strength in everyone around her.
Throughout her uninterrupted fifteen years of struggle, Comrade Feraşîn assumed great responsibilities and achieved significant successes through her determination. On this basis, in the persons of Comrade Feraşîn Bêrîtan and Comrade Aryen Arê, we once again affirm that we will uphold the labour and struggle of all martyrs. In this framework, as the Eastern Kurdistan Defense Forces, we extend our condolences to the family of our valued martyr and to all our patriotic people. We will undoubtedly fulfil their purposes and realise their dreams.”