In the Kurdish province of Batman, a commemoration was held for 15 women guerrilla fighters of the Free Women’s Troops (YJA Star) who were killed on March 24, 2012, in a Turkish airstrike in the Bitlis region. The ceremonies took place at the graves of the fallen fighters in the villages of Eynhisanê and Gundênû in the Kozluk district.
The commemoration, organized by the solidarity organization MEBYA-DER, brought together relatives, representatives of political parties, and members of civil society initiatives on Tuesday. At the Şêx Xelîl cemetery in the village of Eynhisanê, the martyrs were first honored with a minute of silence.
Şafî Aratemur, co-chair of MEBYA-DER in Batman and father of the slain fighter Mizgîn Aratemur (Hêvî Roj), paid tribute to the women’s efforts: “They fought for a free and democratic country,” he said. At the same time, Aratemur called for unity and emphasized that the existing achievements of the Kurdish people must be protected collectively.
Other relatives also recalled the circumstances of the fighters’ deaths. Nuhat Altan, sister of Leyla Altan (Arjin Garzan), described it as a targeted attack: “15 women were subjected to an annihilation attack.” She noted that the guerrilla fighters were killed shortly after Newroz and said: “The martyrs are immortal.” The commemoration then continued at the grave of Leyla Altan in Gundênû, where speeches once again highlighted the significance of the women’s resistance.
Background
On March 22, 2012, the Turkish army launched a large-scale operation in the Xerzan region of Bitlis province. In this context, intense clashes took place in the Geliyê Şêx Ciman area between female guerrilla fighters of YJA Star and Turkish operational units. As Turkish troops failed to advance on the ground, the combat area was bombarded from the air over several days. As a result, 15 fighters were killed, including YJA Star Command Council member Leyla Altan. Following the attack, reports indicated that traces of prohibited weapons had been found on the bodies of the fallen fighters.