Freedom struggles are filled with epic moments that shape the course of history. Courage, sacrifice, and devotion become the flames that elevate the will of a people. The legacy of Zîlan is echoed as a symbol of this spirit within the Kurdish Freedom Movement. From Zap in Southern Kurdistan (Başur) to Rojava, the fire of resistance illuminated hope. Following in the footsteps of martyr Zîlan, Leyla Kaplan encircled President Öcalan with a ring of fire through the self-sacrificing action she carried out on October 25, 1996, targeting the Riot Police Directorate in Adana.

Leyla Kaplan, known by her code name Rewşen, was born in 1979 in Adana. Her family had migrated there from Mardin (Mêrdîn). She completed primary school, but due to severe economic hardship, she was unable to continue her education. Still, the fire of learning in her heart never faded. Through her own efforts, she educated herself. She carried a rebellious spirit against injustice and looked at the world with a heart full of sensitivity. The life of martyr Leyla became a saga devoted to the Kurdish freedom struggle. Through the self-sacrificing action she carried out in Adana on October 25, 1996, she took her place in history as an unextinguishable torch of resistance.

Childhood years

Martyr Leyla grew up in a patriotic family in Adana, a family that never forgot their Kurdish identity, even among the concrete walls of a metropolis. She felt the chains that feudal society imposed on women and deeply experienced the oppression that the Turkish state directed against the Kurdish people.

The streets of Adana became the meeting ground between Martyr Leyla and the resistance in Kurdistan. Waves of uprising (Serhildan) surged through the city, marches, protests, and mass demonstrations. This wave sparked a flame in Leyla’s heart. The patriotic vein of her family and her own desire to open up to the world drew her into this fire. In her martyrdom report, Leyla Kaplan wrote: "To live in Kurdistan and remain indifferent to such developments, either one is truly devoid of reason or one’s soul, consciousness, and humanity have been dulled and stripped away, reduced to the role of a collaborating agent. Anyone who has preserved even a shred of their humanity and honesty will inevitably see this and do all that they can."

Joining the struggle

She joined the uprisings, and that is how she first encountered the resistance. She wanted to become a part of it fully, but because she was too young, she was not accepted into the guerrilla ranks. Still, she did not stop; she did everything she could for the struggle. She witnessed the injustice, inequality, and cruelty of the system with her own eyes. In 1995, she formed a connection and joined the guerrillas. Within the ranks, she witnessed the relentless attacks of the enemy, but she was also deeply moved by the creative spirit of resistance.

A self-sacrificing act as an oath in the footsteps of Zîlan

“In 1995–96, the difficulties we faced and the enemy’s intense attacks created a deep anger in me. The enemy had no tolerance for the fact that, even under such harsh conditions, we continued to resist and overcome. It was as if they wanted to drown us in a spoonful of water, attacking in every possible way. But I saw, within the ranks, how creative and resilient the guerrilla truly was. At the same time, I was negatively affected by those who joined the guerrillas but later became hesitant. That created a sense of resentment in me. I always told myself: no matter the cost, I will never take a step back,” wrote Martyr Rewşen, expressing her determination for a self-sacrificing act. She continued: “I knew comrade Zeynep Kınacı, who carried out such an act in our region. What she did had a profound impact on me. It played a major role in my decision to carry out a similar action. The path Zeynep took was an honorable one, worthy of the party.

I also reached the decision to repay my debt to the party in the greatest possible way. I have never accepted any option other than dying while fighting. I could never allow myself to die in vain. Our hatred and fury against the enemy, our love for the party, we have shown and will continue to show all of this through the noble actions of comrades Zekiye, Bêrîvan, Ronahî, and Zîlan. No force can separate us from this spirit, this belief, and this righteousness.”

In her martyrdom report, Martyr Rewşen expressed her unwavering loyalty to President Öcalan with the following words: “President! I love you more than anything. I can already see the beautiful life I will crown through my action. My fundamental wish of the party is the safety of our President. (…) The more I come to know myself, the stronger my loyalty to you becomes, because it is your existence that created and sustains us. As a Kurdish daughter, I sincerely and wholeheartedly salute you, our President, and I want to express my devotion to you. With this action, I make a promise, first and foremost, to our President, to the people, to all the martyrs of the revolution, and to all comrades resisting on the mountains and in prisons.”

After Martyr Rewşen’s action, President Öcalan shared the following reflection: “These are sacred values. One must know how to be loyal. We have hundreds of heroic values, like Leyla. I even consider myself a practitioner, a servant of the task of understanding them. That is the role I find fitting for myself. Even I struggle in the face of the magnitude of their actions. Those who walk a divine path, who respond to great principles with striking acts, only such people can be this way. Of course, my role is different: I must ensure continuity, growth, and victory. Service can only be meaningful in this way, there is no other way.”

Her legacy: A free woman, a free Kurdistan

Martyr Rewşen is remembered as a Kurdish woman who burned with a passion for freedom. The value President Öcalan placed on women illuminated her path of struggle. She said, “The path to women’s liberation opened by our President made me proud.” Through her action, she became a guide for those fighting for a free Kurdistan and a liberated female identity. Her courage, sacrifice, and patriotism turned her into a symbol. Her story echoes as an epic of a woman who never bowed to oppression, who protected her identity, and who was willing to pay any price for freedom. She lives on, in the mountains, in the streets, and in the hearts of the people.