Abdilhenan Memo, born in 1964 in the fertile lands of Afrin (Efrîn), grew up in the village of Qurta in the Bilbil district. A father of seven children, Abdilhenan’s life intersected with the Kurdish Freedom Movement in the 1990s. While serving as a militia member in Bilbil, he became acquainted with the PKK’s ideas. During this period, Abdilhenan wholeheartedly embraced the rightful cause of the Kurdish people.  With a deep sense of patriotism from a young age, he dedicated himself to the movement, contributing in every possible way to the struggle.

Years later, in 2010, his son Mistefa Memo (Ciwan Efrîn) joined the PKK. When ISIS mercenaries attacked Kobanê, Mistefa Memo went to defend the city alongside his HPG (People's Defense Forces) comrades. Mistefa Memo fell as a martyr in 2014 during the epic resistance for the liberation of Kobanê. Following his brother’s death, Siwar Memo (Ciwan Efrîn) joined the YPG (People's Defense Units) in 2015. To honor his brother’s memory and ensure that his struggle continued, he adopted his code name.  Siwar Memo too fell a martyr in 2019 during the Turkish state’s invasion of Serêkaniyê and Girê Sipî.

Abdilhenan Memo has been a steadfast patriot of the Kurdish Freedom Movement for 35 years, despite losing both of his sons. He told ANF about his journey with the Kurdish Freedom Struggle, which began in 1990, and his meeting with Abdullah Öcalan in 1996.

Memo became acquainted with the Kurdish Freedom Movement in the 1990s. He described those days as follows: "In the 1990s, I met PKK cadres in Western (Rojava) Kurdistan. Their sole focus was on the cause of the Kurdish people. They constantly spoke of revolution and emphasized the Kurdish people's unyielding revolutionary spirit in the face of oppression. Whenever they mentioned Mr. Öcalan, we were filled with excitement. At the time, we were just beginning to learn about the PKK. Our deep connection to our land and our determination to preserve our identity led us to the PKK. They were working to bring the truth to light and instill a strong sense of patriotism. They always emphasized the importance of loyalty to the land and national consciousness. They were honest people who dedicated themselves to their country and people. Our growing understanding of why the PKK cadres were fighting and our deep-rooted attachment to our homeland brought us closer to them each day. Their lives, built on the principles of truth and honesty, reinforced their commitment to the cause. For this reason, we opened our doors to Öcalan’s cadres; our home became their home. My mother, father, and siblings, our entire family, we dedicated ourselves to serving the Kurdish freedom struggle."

We worked tirelessly because we believed in the revolution

Memo continued: "Later, I became involved in militia activities. Our primary duty was to organize the people. In those days, bringing people together felt like creating a revolution itself. It is truly difficult to describe the joy we experienced in every gathering. Each meeting and discussion served as a means to instill the spirit of patriotism. The people of Afrin were highly organized, deeply connected to their land and country. Our movement grew larger by the day. Even those who were married contributed in every way they could, putting the struggle for freedom above their personal and family interests. They believed that without freedom, even the existence of a family had no real meaning. With this awareness, everyone took responsibility and made sacrifices. Despite the heavy oppression of the Ba'ath regime, no one hesitated. We lived in a society that was ready to endure torture, imprisonment, and even death for the cause. Our main focus was to strengthen our organization day by day and march toward victory."

Our greatest wish was to see Öcalan 

Abdilhenan Memo recalled his 1996 meeting with Abdullah Öcalan, describing the anticipation and emotions of that moment: "We would play recordings of Öcalan’s speeches for the people, distribute brochures, and try to spread his ideas in meetings. But seeing him in person was our greatest longing. Every day, we woke up with the hope of meeting him. By  1996, our comrades informed us that a major meeting would take place in Aleppo. I was invited to attend, but I had no idea what the meeting was about, where we were going, or who was organizing it. Early in the morning, we set out for Aleppo and arrived at the designated location in the afternoon. It was a large rural settlement on the outskirts of the city. We took our seats and waited, unaware of what was about to happen. No one expected that Mr. Öcalan would be there. About 20 minutes later, Öcalan entered."

We had to be as selfless as Öcalan

Memo stated: "Seeing Abdullah Öcalan was an entirely different feeling. Even though we had been spreading his ideas, we had never seen him in person. And this always made us feel incomplete. When we finally saw Mr. Öcalan, we were filled with an overwhelming sense of morale and excitement. It felt like reaching a miracle you once thought was unattainable. Öcalan had dedicated himself entirely to the cause, sacrificing everything for his people. At that moment, I realized that we, too, had to be more selfless. Standing before a man who had surpassed himself, devoting every moment to his people, it was impossible not to feel inadequate."

Mr. Öcalan spoke to us about Kurdish history 

Memo added: "At that time in Syria, there was a strong propaganda campaign claiming that the Kurds were not indigenous people of the region but had come from elsewhere. These narratives were being used to create division and hostility among different communities. During the meeting, Mr. Öcalan’s primary focus was to emphasize that the Kurdish people are an ancient and indigenous people. He was committed to educating his militia, providing them with a historical perspective, and ensuring that they were well-informed. He wanted us to be knowledgeable when engaging with society. His goal was for the people to reach the truth. In this context, we held in-depth discussions on the subject."

My way of working changed after meeting Öcalan

Memo noted that "After this meeting, we engaged with society more effectively and with greater determination. We have become more creative in our activities. I can say that there was hardly a door we didn’t knock on. Before meeting Öcalan, my pace and approach to work were different. But after seeing him in person, everything changed. Witnessing his work ethic, relentless energy, and unique style up close had a profound impact on my personality."

They wanted to eliminate a people and an idea 

Memo emphasized the removal of Mr. Öcalan from Syria, highlighting that the international conspiracy (15 February 1999, the day in which Öcalan was abducted in Kenya), which began on October 9, 1998, was ultimately defeated through the struggle of Mr. Öcalan and the people. He concluded his remarks by stating: "The removal of Mr. Öcalan from Syria was an indescribable pain for the people of Afrin and the entire Kurdish nation. The hostility towards him and the movement led to the execution of an international conspiracy. Their goal was to eliminate both a people and an idea. However, when the conspiracy took place, our commitment to Mr. Öcalan and the movement grew even stronger. No matter how vast the conspiracy was, our hope was even greater. We never succumbed to despair, nor did we lose faith in him and the movement. On the contrary, our belief in the Kurdish freedom struggle deepened, and our organizational activities gained even more strength."

Our belief in the revolution was unshakable 

He concluded: "Mr. Öcalan was taken captive, but our belief in the success of the revolution remained unshakable. We condemned and denounced the conspiracy through our active participation, by raising awareness, and by strengthening our organization. We did not abandon the streets; instead, we deepened our commitment to our movement. In doing so, we rendered the conspiracy ineffective. Following Mr. Öcalan’s imprisonment, we did not retreat or hide in our homes. Everything we learned from him remained alive in our spirit and consciousness, and we passed this legacy on to each new generation. The international forces failed to achieve their objectives, and they never will. The Kurdish people have become conscious and politically aware. They have embraced their Leader and have chosen him as their guide."