NEWS CENTER - Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez, whose paths crossed in the diaspora, became martyries in 3 different lands where they were sent off from Diyarbakır, the heartland of the Kurdish freedom struggle.

 

3 women who were born in different times and places in the geography of Kurdistan met on the same road to change the "destiny" that was given to the Kurdish people. These women, who devoted their lives to the struggle for freedom, were sent off together to the caravan of "those who love their lives enough to die for their sake".

 

3 WOMEM FROM DİYARBAKIR

 

The bodies of PKK founder Sakine Cansız (Sara), Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) Paris Representative Fidan Doğan (Rojbîn) and Kurdish Youth Movement member Leyla Şaylemez (Ronahî), who were murdered on January 9, 2013 in Paris, France, were brought to Amed by the same plane. Cansız, Doğan and Şaylemez, who were welcomed by hundreds of thousands here, were then sent off to Tunceli, Maraş and Mersin, where they will be with a magnificent ceremony on the shoulders of women.

 

The 3 women, who started their journey in lands where massacre and migration left deep traces, shed light on today's women's freedom struggle.

 

FİDAN DOĞAN

 

Fidan Doğan, one of 3 women, was born after a massacre against Kurdish Alevis, just like Sakine Cansız. Doğan was born on January 17, 1982 in the village of Hançıplak in the Elbistan district of Maraş, where hundreds of Alevis were killed and hundreds of houses and businesses were set on fire during the 7-day events against Alevis on December 19, 1978. Doğan, who was born 4 years after the massacre, was named after her great aunt. Her family had to immigrate to France for economic reasons when she was only 2 years old (1984). Doğan, who stayed with her grandmother in the village with her 2 sisters, studied in the village until the second grade of primary school. When she was 9 years old, she went to France with her brothers and his family. Doğan, who last visited the village where male domination still prevails at the age of 17, was impressed by the struggle of the university youth she met in the village. Doğan, who had completed her secondary and high school education in Strasburg, France, returned to Strasburg at the end of the summer vacation, but her mind remained with the youth in the village. Doğan, who first participated in cultural events at the Kurdish Cultural Association, increased her interest and commitment to the struggle.

 

FEBRUARY 15, 1999 DATE

 

For Doğan, who grew up in a patriotic family, February 15, 1999 was a turning point. The fact that PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan was brought to Turkey by an international conspiracy marked the beginning of the history of struggle for Doğan, like many Kurdish youth. Dogan, who is remembered for her never-ending smile and modesty, has come a long way in the struggle. Doğan, who participated in youth work in the diaspora, decided to use the name "Rojbin".

 

DOĞAN WAS ASSIGNED TO KNK REPRESENTATIVE

 

After her first two years of practice, Doğan started her diploma studies at the Kurdistan Information Center, where she was murdered. Doğan, who carries out diplomatic activities in many European countries, especially in France and Belgium, attracted attention with her persuasive character. Doğan was the spokesperson for the hunger strike that lasted 39 days in 2007, demanding that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) send a delegation to İmralı Island against Öcalan's poisoning. She returned to her office, this time in charge. Doğan, who was assigned the KNK Representative responsible for all diplomatic areas of France, tried to draw the attention of the whole world to the Kurdish freedom struggle until the day she was murdered.

 

LEYLA ŞAYLEMEZ

 

Leyla Şaylemez was the youngest of the three women. Şaylemez, who was born in Mersin on January 1, 1988, when the Halabja Massacre took place, was named after Leyla Qasim, one of the pioneers of the Kurdish women's struggle. Her father would tell years later, “My daughter has lived up to her name”.

 

Şaylemez, who is from the Lice district of Diyarbakır, was the fifth child of a family of 8 children who had to migrate to Mersin 37 years ago due to the oppression and persecution of the state. When she was only 2 years old, his father Cumali Şaylemez immigrated to Germany due to the oppression and persecution of the state. Şaylemez, who spent her childhood with her mother, siblings, cousins and uncles in a two-storey house located in Mersin's former name Barbaros and now in Eğriçam Mahallesi, went to Germany in 1994 with her 5 siblings. Two years later, his mother and two siblings went to Germany.

 

A LIFE IN EXILE

 

Şaylemez and her family, who settled in the city of Halle in the Saxony-Anhalt State of Germany in 1994, struggled for life under difficult conditions for many years. Her family took their children to Kurdish associations so that they would not stay away from their own cultural values in addition to their education in German schools. Şaylemez, who took part in folklore groups, remained in the memories with her stubborn person. After 9 years of education, Şaylemez started preparations to enter the university. Meanwhile, she started to get to know the Kurdish movement and took an active part in studies. She carried out youth work in various parts of Europe, which she joined in 2008.

 

HER GREATEST LONGING IS TO VISIT DİYARBAKIR

 

Şaylemez, who joined the PKK in 2010, returned to Europe 2 years later due to health problems and continued her work more actively from where she left off. Şaylemez, whose greatest longing is to visit Diyarbakır and attend Diyarbakır Newroz, has put in a great struggle in her short life for the liberation of the lands she longed for.