The massacre that took place in Paris, the capital of France, reveals that the hegemonic system fears women most when they claim ownership of their freedom and their society. For this reason, throughout history, major attacks have been carried out against free women. The assassination on 9 January 2013 of Sakine Cansız (Sara), one of the pioneers of the Kurdish freedom movement, along with Fidan Doğan (Rojbîn) and Leyla Şaylemez (Ronahî), clearly showed that the personality of the free woman was being targeted.
Kurdish women and women from many countries around the world demand accountability for this massacre every year with great anger and determination, expressing their reactions. In the mountains of Kurdistan, YJA Star guerrillas also defend the values of free women. YJA Star guerrillas Gelawêj Teyrê Baz and Delîla Çinar spoke about Martyr Sara, one of the pioneers of the women’s freedom movement, on the anniversary of the Paris massacre.
YJA Star guerrilla Gelawêj Teyrê Baz said that she was influenced by Martyr Sara’s stance and joined the freedom movement as a response to the Paris massacre, saying: “The martyrdom of comrades Sara, Rojbîn and Ronahî deeply affected us. Once again, we commemorate all revolutionary martyrs in their memory and bow respectfully before them. I had heard the name of Heval Sara because of the resistance carried out in the Amed prison. Among the people, her struggle and resistance were often spoken about. Heval Sara’s martyrdom also received a lot of coverage in the media, and I was deeply affected; it intensified my desire for revenge. On this basis, I decided to join in 2013 and took my place in the ranks of the Kurdistan freedom movement.”
Guerrilla Gelawêj Teyrê Baz added: “As you get to know Heval Sara, you see how much effort she put into the organization, especially for the liberation of women and for women to join the movement. For this reason, Heval Sara’s stance is our line. With the resistance she waged in prison, she laid the foundation for this movement to stand strong under all conditions. Her ideological stance created great hope in all of us; we organize ourselves on this basis. Heval Sara is an exemplary comrade in every sense; sometimes I wish I had had the chance to be with her. Even a single photograph or image of her is enough to make the feeling of freedom blossom in people. Therefore, I will always walk in Heval Sara’s line of resistance.
Especially women must protect the values created by our martyrs. In this process, Leader Apo took an important and historic step with his call for Peace and a Democratic Society. We will struggle so that this process is carried out correctly and powerfully, and so that we can uphold the line of resistance created by our martyrs like Heval Sara. Only in this way can we become true comrades of the Leadership. Leader Apo has clearly defined the role given to women. In all his talks and evaluations, the importance he places on women is clearly visible. The realization of women’s freedom is one of our fundamental goals.
For this reason, we must carry out this struggle more than anyone else. We must protect the Leadership more than anyone else, feel our people’s pain more deeply than anyone else, and turn every attack against women into a rage for revenge. Heval Sara is the spiritual value of all women. She was a single person, yet she found a place in everyone’s heart. Comrade Sara created a great spirit; everyone organizes themselves on this basis. We too will organize along this line, stand by our martyred comrades, and always defend their line.”
Heval Sara was known for her unyielding stance
YJA Star guerrilla Delîla Çinar, who began her words by commemorating all the martyrs of Kurdistan in the person of the Paris martyrs, stated that she draws her strength from commanders like Martyr Sara, saying: “When I had just joined the freedom movement, the phrase ‘My life was always struggle’ was often expressed. This phrase truly caught my attention. When I learned that it was the title of Heval Sara’s book, I wanted to read it as soon as possible. When I read the book, I understood more clearly how strong a stance Heval Sara took against the mentality of power. She was always in struggle and search against the backward and sexist mentality that enslaves women. Comrade Sara is known for her revolutionary personality and her unyielding stance.
Her stance in prison deeply affected everyone. Despite enduring severe torture, she never bowed her head for a moment and always resisted. With her resistance, she was like a mountain; she paid very heavy prices to reach freedom. Heval Sara spent many years in the field of the Leadership, and Leader Apo placed great value on Comrade Sara. Our duty is to live like Heval Sara and to persist in her line. Only in this way can we be worthy of her struggle. Heval Sara’s love for nature and for party life was very strong. She would go to exercise every morning and did so with great passion; that is why she was very fit. We too will continue her struggle to the end, taking Martyr Sara’s stance as our basis. Especially in this process, we want to put forward a strong stance. With the call made by Leader Apo, we will understand this process correctly and participate in it in the right way. The legacy of resistance left by Heval Sara will be our principle of life.”