Martyrs Ruheyv, Dîren, and Ruheyv —three sisters — joined the ranks of the Women’s Protection Units to defend their homeland and uphold the values of their women’s revolution. Born into a patriotic and devoted family in Afrin, they grew up during the revolution. They were guided by the light of Leader Apo’s (Abdullah Öcalan's) ideas towards freedom, and on that basis, they became heroic revolutionaries.

“Through Struggle, Women Gain Strength, Awareness, and Willpower”

Ruheyv Efrin, a fighter in the Women’s Protection Units, was deeply affected by the martyrdom of her sister, Rohiv, and decided to join. She introduces herself as follows: “I joined the Women’s Protection Units in Shahba in 2021. I come from a patriotic family, and the outbreak of the Rojava Revolution had a significant impact on us. My eldest sister, Comrade Dîren, was the first to join the YPJ. At the time, I was too young to understand much about the freedom movement. But with my sister’s participation, our family became more engaged with the movement and more committed to their national duty. The introduction to the movement had a positive impact on our family, encouraging more active involvement. On this basis, my sister Ruheyv also joined. With her involvement, my belief in the freedom movement grew even stronger. I reached the conviction that I had to fulfill my own duty by joining too. Others, including my friends, were not very supportive of my decision to join, as two of my sisters were already members of the movement and I was still very young. But none of that affected my decision.”

Ruheyv, known for her dedicated struggle, did not retreat when she couldn’t initially join the YPJ military forces. Instead, she participated in organizational activities within the Revolutionary Youth Movement. She describes that period, saying: “I realized that through struggle, women gain strength, awareness, and willpower. With this understanding, I joined the activities of the Revolutionary Youth Movement. During our work, we received ideological training. One becomes more conscious of how the occupying states use special warfare tactics to subjugate youth and society, to put them at their service, and to alienate them from their community’s reality. In order not to fall prey to these tactics, we trained ourselves and encouraged young people to engage in revolutionary activities.I also came to understand the strength and identity of women up close. I saw how the revolution had made it this far. Once a person discovers the identity of the free human, they cling to it and cannot let it go. Later, I insisted once again on joining the ranks of the YPJ.”

“I Carried My Sister’s Weapon and Became the Torchbearer of Her Cause”

YPJ fighter Ruheyv Efrin describes her enlistment: “On October 13, 2019, my sister Rohiv was martyred in the battle of Serêkaniyê. That event had a deep impact on me — not only emotionally. After learning about the strength of women and understanding the goal for which they fight and sacrifice their lives — the national cause — I came to give a deeper meaning to martyrdom. That’s why I followed in my sister’s footsteps and joined the freedom movement. The enemy thinks that the martyrdom of our loved ones will weaken and break us, but the opposite is true — we grow stronger with every martyrdom. I am now carrying my sister’s weapon to defeat the enemy and take revenge. I will uphold my sister’s cause. With this martyrdom, my determination and resolve to join became even stronger.”

After some time, Ruheyv Efrin was reunited with her sister, YPJ fighter Dîren. She shares her emotions from that moment, saying: “First, I received basic ideological and military training. After completing the training, I met my sister, Comrade Dîren. Seeing her for the first time was a profound and beautiful feeling.Yes, we are sisters by blood, but now we are comrades in the same cause. I am deeply proud to be standing alongside my siblings in the struggle within the Women’s Freedom Movement. We are comrades of this cause. Seeing and embracing Comrade Dîren gave me great strength.”

“We Will Respond to the Mentality of Occupation”

In her final message, Ruheyv Efrin calls on young women and men to defend their homeland and existence. She concludes by saying: “I was inspired by my martyred sister and followed her path. I wanted to carry her weapon and be the one to walk her road. I call on all young women and men to join the YPJ and YPG. Let us respond with strength to the mentality of invasion and occupation. Let us arm ourselves with determination and defend our revolution. Let us stand against the Turkish occupying state, which kills our committed youth every day with chemical weapons.

It is the philosophy of Leader Apo that enabled the Kurdish people to recognize themselves and their will. For the freedom of Leader Apo, unite around your leadership and your land.”