ROJ HOZAN

Qamishlo- On October 9, 2018, Turkey launched a military operation into NE Syria, Girê Spî and Serêkaniyê. On the fifth day of the operation, people from many cities of NE Syria gathered in Serêkaniyê to protest the operation. Eqide Osman, a member of Kongreya Star and the Women's Justice Council, was one of the protesters. She was killed in the Turkish state attack on a civilian convoy heading to Serêkaniyê.

Eqide Osman was born in 1966, in the Girêpirê village of Qamishlo’s Girkêleg district, NE Syria. She had five children. She was known for her cheerful personality and she dedicated her life to women’s struggle for freedom. She was arrested several times by the Baath regime for her thoughts. But each time she became stronger and kept struggling. The struggle of Eqide Osman and her comrades raised a revolutionary love in every woman. She always dreamed of defending her people. She struggled for women until she was killed while heading to Serêkaniyê with a civilian group. Her friends told us about her life.

“She was a real friend”

Esma Murad has known Eqide Osman for years. “We were neighbors and friends. She was a real friend to me. She dedicated her life to this country. We went through a lot of pain together but we also fought together. She always respected mothers. The door of her house was always open for patriots. We got to know the idea of freedom together. We were very affected by the capture of Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan). We mourned together. We were together at every protest. We organized women together,” Esma Murad told us.

“We didn’t accept violence against women”

Eqide Osman and Esma Murad were members of the Yekitiya Star (later Kongreya Star) before the revolution in Rojava. They worked together in the Women's Justice Council. “After the revolution, the pressure on women increased. We didn’t accept violence against women. We always supported women. We defended women's rights and told women what their rights were. If women support each other, justice will be definitely delivered.”

“We overcame many difficulties together”

Eyhan Murad, another friend of Eqide Osman, also talked about her. “There is no word to describe our friendship. She was known for her leadership and fighting spirit by all mothers in Girkêlegê because we had a strong friendship. She left good memories. She was always cheerful. She encouraged women to work more. We were held in prison together and overcame many difficulties together.”