ROJ HOZAN

Qamishlo – Two years have passed since Turkey launched its military operation into NE Syria on October 9, 2019. On the third day of the operation, Kurdish politician Hevrin Khalaf, the Secretary-General of the Future Syria Party, was killed near M+ Motorway south of Tell Abyan. Her comrades spoke to NuJINHA on the anniversary of the murder of Hevrin Khalaf.

“Hevrin showed us how women can be free”

Her comrade Perwin Yusif told us the life of Hevrin Khalaf. “We grew up in the same neighborhood and we were comrades. I respectfully commemorate the women who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom. The whole world saw what had happened to Hevrin. Then, they get to know more about her personality. Her stance and approach showed us how women can be free. There are very few women like Hevrin, who dedicated their lives for women’s freedom, in the world, particularly in the Middle East.”

“Women’s revolution was our childhood dream”

Hevrin Khalaf had always a spirit of resistance, Perwin Yusif said, “Women’s revolution was our childhood dream. For this reason, we took part in the struggle. After the revolution (Women’s Revolution in Rojava), we needed more women, who are patriotic, free, and educated, for building a free life. Hevrin was such a woman. People liked her. All members of the Future Syria Party knew that she was qualified. Especially after the liberation of the Arab people, we wanted to work harder. Hevrin began to work in the Arab region and gave information to the people about the culture of the democratic nation. She wanted to share her free life philosophy with them.”

“Hevrin’s struggle will continue”

Perwin Yusif talked about the personality of Hevrin Khalaf, “Hevrin was soft-hearted and she supported all of her friends and comrades. When we spent time with her, we felt more relaxed. Everyone was affected by her death. Hevrin struggled for all of Syria. She was a resisting woman. The atrocity against her is a tragedy all around the world. The death of Hevrin has left an empty space in my life. Nothing can fulfill this space but her struggle will always continue.  We will carry out her struggle to the end.”

“She was a patient person”

Her other comrade Sema Begdaş told us how she met Hevrin Khalaf, “I met her during the revolution. We worked together in the establishment of the Autonomous Administration. Our bond got stronger day by day. We took training courses together. I learned her view on life and her stance during the courses. She actively participated in the courses. She was always self-disciplined. Her awareness level was high and she was a patient person. We will continue her struggle.”

Who is Hevrin Khalaf?

Born on November 15, 1984, in the Rêhanik village of NE Syria’s Derik city, Hevrin Khalaf was the youngest child of her family. In 2009, she graduated from the University of Aleppo as a civil engineer. When the revolution in Rojava started, she rose to prominence in the Autonomous Administration of NE Syria. She began managing one of the Economic Council and then she became co-chair of the energy authority. She founded the Future Syria Party on March 27, 2018, and became the Secretary-General of the party. On October 12, she was brutally killed near the M4 Motorway south of Tell Abyad during the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria. Lyon Municipality in France named a square after her.