Internationalists gathered yesterday at a memorial event held in Rojava. All martyrs were commemorated in the names of Greek revolutionary Elefteria Fortulaki, YPJ commander Sidar Afrin, guerrilla commander Emîne Erciyes, and internationalist freedom fighter Tîjda Zagros (Kelly Freigang).
The memorial was held at the Şehid Delil Saroxan Cemetery of Martyrs in Qamishlo in memory of 23-year-old Greek internationalist Elefteria Fortulaki, who set herself on fire in Athens on March 24, 2006, to raise her voice for the Kurdish struggle; YPJ commander Sîdar Afrin, who fell in Tabqa on January 18; Turkmen-origin guerrilla commander Emîne Erciyes, who was martyred in the mountains of Kurdistan in 2020; and German internationalist Kelly Freigang (Tîjda Zagros), who fell in the Medya Defense Zones in the summer of 2025.
The commemoration was attended by families of the martyrs, representatives of civil society organizations, political party members, and many internationalists.
Speakers drew attention to the policies of international powers in the region and emphasized the importance of such commemorations for the search for peace and a shared future. The father of a YPJ fighter said, “These commemorations strengthen the shared demand for peace among different communities.”
Participants stated that internationalism in Rojava represents not only solidarity, but also a shared struggle for a democratic, communal society, women’s freedom, and an ecological way of life. An internationalist from Spain said, “Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) has taken a new step to break the cycle of violence and present an egalitarian project through the process of peace and democratic society.”
As part of the commemoration, shadow puppet performances prepared by women’s organizations drew particular attention. Performances staged with the contributions of the groups “Gemeinsam Kämpfen” (Struggle Together), “Jin Rojava Diparêzin” (Women Defend Rojava), and “Astare Arte” received great interest.
Members of the Andrea Wolf Institute staged a short theater play based on the legend of Shahmaran. Video messages sent by the families of Azad Şergeş (Thomas Johann Spiess) from Germany, who fell in the mountains of Kurdistan, and Baran Sason from the Netherlands, who was martyred resisting armed groups in Deir ez-Zor, were shared with the participants.
The commemoration concluded with calls for peace and equality in the face of ongoing conflicts in the region. The mother of a YPG fighter who fell during an attack by forces of the Syrian transitional government in January expressed her feelings as follows: “The demand for peace unites people across continents and borders. Young people coming here from all over the world show us that we are on the right path. Even though this path is very difficult for us who have lost our children…”
Following the commemoration, participants attended the funeral ceremony of YPG fighter Karker Qamishlo, held the same day in Qamishlo.