The guerrilla struggle, especially within the context of the women’s freedom movement, continues to have deep and lasting impacts on societies. At a time when women were oppressed and seen as domestic slaves, the paradigm developed by Abdullah Öcalan and the struggle of pioneering women such as martyr Sakine Cansız (Sara) enabled women to rediscover themselves and gain self-confidence.
The Women’s Freedom Movement had created a powerful impact not only among the Kurdish people but also among different peoples and nations. Segments of society that could not initially comprehend the revolution came to recognize it through the determined struggle of women revolutionaries in the guerrilla ranks and joined the struggle on this basis. One of the most important pioneers of this line, martyr Sara, continues today to stand as a powerful example of struggle for women around the world, especially in the Middle East.
Internationalist Arab guerrilla Avaşîn Qamishlo, is also among the fighters who joined the freedom movement inspired by the stance of martyr Sara. On the occasion of the 14th anniversary of martyr Sara’s killing, Avaşîn Qamishlo shared her feelings with ANF.
Beginning her remarks by condemning the plot carried out on 9 January 2013 in Paris, Avaşîn Qamishlo said: “First of all, I respectfully commemorate all revolutionary martyrs, in the person of comrades Sara, Rojbîn, and Ronahî.”
Stating that she did not have the chance to know martyr Sara personally, Avaşîn Qamişsho said that she came to know Sara’s struggle closely through the accounts of comrades and the books she read, adding: “I was very curious about Heval Sara. For this reason, I read her book My Life Was Always Struggle. The book had a very deep impact on me. As a Kurdish woman, Heval Sara created a great influence on people through her stance and her struggle.”
Emphasizing that martyr Sara’s resistance has become a symbol of freedom for Arab women as well, Avaşîn Qamishlo said that she joined this movement influenced by the strength of Apoist women. Stating: “I am making a great effort to reach the level of struggle of Heval Sara,” Avaşîn Qamishlo pledged to further expand the struggle in 2026.
Avaşîn Qamishlo also highlighted the importance of the process that developed following Öcalan’s call in 2025, saying: “In this process, we will further strengthen our struggle. We will take Heval Sara’s comradeship, resistance, and militant stance as our example and continue to walk along her line.”