NUPELDA DENİZ

Makhmour- The Martyr Jiyan Academy was opened in the Makhmour Martyr Rustem Cudi Camp (Makhmour Refugee Camp) in 2003 to realize the dream of Zeynep Erdem, also known as “Jiyan”, who was killed by the peshmerga of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in the Atrush camp on September 13, 1995. The academy has provided education to women and children for 21 years.

 Born in Sivas in 1967, Zeynep Erdem completed her university education in Ankara. In 1998, she joined the Kurdish Freedom Movement, adopting the philosophy of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan based on freedom for both women and society. Between 1993 and 1994, Zeynep Erdem was in Botan, a Kurdish region in southeastern Turkey, and then went to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In 1995, she returned to Botan, Atrush Camp. At the camp, Zeynep Erdem carried out education programs for women.

KDP attacked people

Between 1993 and 1994, thousands of people were displaced in Botan by the attacks of the Turkish state. They set up tents in Geliyê Qiyametê (Doomsday Valley); however, they were subjected to the attacks of the KDP there. The KDP peshmerga blocked the entry of food and medical supplies to the camp and on September 13, 1995, the people of the Atrush camp held a march to protest the KDP. The KDP peshmerga attacked the people, killing Zeynep Erdem and injuring seven people. The women of the Makhmour refugee camp opened the Martyr Jiyan Academy in 2003 in the memory of Zeynep Erdem.

NuJINHA spoke to Bêrîvan Îşlek, a member of the academy, about their activities.

‘She made great efforts for her people’

“The academy was opened in 2003 in the memory of martyr Zeynep Erdem. The Atrush camp was built in 1995. The KDP forces imposed a siege on the camp and surrounded it. The people of the camp held a march to protest the siege. Comrade Jiyan made great efforts of the people in the camp. She also played a leading role in the camp. While people were protesting the siege, the KDP forces opened fire on them, killing comrade Jiyan and injuring many people.”

Her dream has been realized by the academy

Pointing out that Zeynep Erdem cared about women's education, Bêrîvan Îşlek said, “The people, who lived and worked with Jiyan, say that she attached great importance to women’s education. They say that Jiyan always wanted women to be educated, learn how to read and write. The Martyr Jiyan Academy was opened in the Makhmour refugee camp in 2003 in memory of Jiyan (Zeynep Erdem) in order to realize her dream.”

Education programs

The academy has carried out education programs for women and children in the camp since 2003. “80 percent of the women in the camp received education at the Martyr Jiyan Academy. The academy provides courses lasting 25 days, 45 days and 60 days. Women of all ages participate in the courses. The academy also provides reading and writing courses in Kurdish and Arabic to women and children. We also provide sport activities for them.”

‘Our main duty is to educate women against attacks’

As the Martyr Jiyan Academy, our main duty is to educate women against attacks, Bêrîvan Îşlek stressed, adding, “We provide training courses to women about health, history, wealth, self-defense, self-confidence and women's freedom. The door of the academy is open to everyone.”

‘We must realize her dream’

Bêrîvan Îşlek told us that they would continue to “realize the dream of Zeynep Erdem. We must realize her dream by being determined to educate ourselves, our families and our society.”