Ivana Hoffmann, a member of the Marxist–Leninist Communist Party (MLKP), lost her life in Til Temir on March 7, 2015, the eve of International Women’s Day. “All women should defend the women’s revolution like Ivana Hoffman, who came to Rojava from Germany to defend this region and women’s revolution in Rojava. Defending the revolution in NE Syria means defending women's dignity. Martyred at the age of 18, Ivana became a role model. She left behind a life for young people to live free.,” Alaz Diren, her comrade in arms, said.

SORGUL ŞÊXO

Hesekê –Fighters from many countries of the world participated in the Revolution in Rojava, which spread to northeastern Syria. Ivana Hoffmann (nom de guerre: Avaşin Tekoşin Güneş) was one of these women. Her heartbeat was for the revolution. She wanted to see a world where women and people live free and equal together. For this reason, she participated in the revolution in Rojava in 2014. She was born in 1995, in Germany, to a German mother and Togolese father. She grew up in Europe and got involved in left-wing politics. On February 23, 2015, ISIS attacked Til Temir. Known for her smiling face and modesty, Ivana Hoffmann lost her life on March 7, 2015, in Til Nesrin village of Til Temir while fighting ISIS. Ivana Hoffmann, who was the granddaughter of Nelson Mandela, is the first internationalist woman in Rojava Kurdistan. We spoke to Alaz Diren, a fighter of the Marxist–Leninist Communist Party (MLKP) about Ivana Hoffmann.

“She had a pioneering character”

Speaking about her activities in Europe with Ivana Hoffmann, Alaz Diren said, “I met her in Germany in 2012. We carried out the youth activities of MLKP together. Our aim was the implementation of socialism and communism for the whole world and its oppressed peoples. I had the opportunity to get to know Ivana more in marches and protests. Ivana had a pioneering character. She was always at the frontline. During discussions, she always drew attention to the oppressed Kurdish people and their desire for a free country. The thing that impressed Ivana the most was the guerrilla struggle. She always focused on the struggle and resistance of the Kurdish people.”

“We couldn’t stay in Europe”

Talking about the revolution that started in northeastern Syria and how it affected Ivana Hoffmann, Alaz Diren said, “While we were carrying out activities in Europe, there was a revolution in Rojava Kurdistan. The answer to all our questions was in Rojava. The revolution, which was a dream in NE Syria, was taking place in Rojava. As if a story from history was being told, and the resistance and struggle that was told suddenly were coming true. NE Syria may be geographically far from Europe but the revolution was taking place there. Ivana couldn’t stay in Europe while a revolution was taking place in Rojava. Because her dreams were slowly coming true and the oppressed peoples were resisting in Rojava. As a young communist, she had to take her place in this revolution. And Ivana took her place in the revolution. She felt she had to stand by the oppressed people to resist the government, the sovereigns, fascism, and ISIS. She decided to go to Rojava to fight the darkness of ISIS and the imperialist powers who wanted to kill the people.”

“She had unending energy”

Stating that Ivana had unending energy that empowered everyone, Alaz Diren said, “It's hard to describe how Ivana affected my personality because I know that I will not be able to tell it. She had unending energy. Ivana used her energy and power against the darkness. Growing up in Europe as a woman, as an immigrant having no society is very different. Ivana never accepted to bow down. She turned what she faced into power. For this reason, her energy never ended.”

The last words of Ivana: Even though we become martyrs, the people's power is with us

Stating that Ivana Hoffmann was a multicultural woman, Alaz Diren continued to talk about her as follows: “Ivana was influenced by many cultures. She was influenced by the African, German, Kurdish women, and communist cultures. All cultures turned into power inside her. She always told us, ‘Communist women from Africa, Germany, Rojava, Bashur, Rojhilat Kurdistan are waiting for us.’ The last words of Ivana were: ‘We are fighting with the love of friendship so that we can reach the truth and move forward to socialism. Even though we become martyrs, the power of people is with us, and with this power, we will ensure victory. There is no race discrimination in socialist culture. No matter how people defend their reputation against sovereignty, whether, with a gun, a pen, or an action, the important thing is to defend their dignity.’”

“Ivana wanted to see Mardin”

Stating that Ivana wanted to see Mardin, Alaz Diren said, “Ivana always said she was from Mardin. When she met comrades from Mardin, she became happy. She always asked questions about Mardin. After Ivana became a martyr, we sent her body to Germany through the border gate in Mardin, Northern Kurdistan.”

“She left a life for young people”

“Ivana Hoffmann, the first female internationalist martyr of North and East Syria and Rojava,” Alaz Diren said, “Ivana was an African woman who grew up in Germany. She learned how Kurdish people were oppressed. She joined the MLKP and became a role model in Rojava. The revolution in North and East Syria, also known as the women's revolution, must be defended by women all over the world today. Defending the women’s revolution in Rojava means fighting the patriarchal mentality. All women should defend and protect this revolution. All women should defend the women’s revolution like Ivana Hoffman, who came to Rojava from Germany to defend this region and women’s revolution in Rojava. Defending the revolution in NE Syria means defending women's dignity. Martyred at the age of 18, Ivana became a role model. She left behind a life for young people to live free.”