Struggles for freedom reshape the course of history through sacrifice and determination. The spirit of resistance led by Zîlan became a symbol within the Kurdish Freedom Movement. On October 29, 1996, martyr Bermal created a barricade of fire around President Öcalan through her self-sacrificing action in Sivas. With courage and unwavering commitment, she fueled the hope of Kurdistan and carried the fire of freedom from Zap to Rojava, leaving behind an immortal legacy of resistance against colonialism.

Martyr Bermal (Güler Ortaç) was born in 1967 in the village of Yolağzı in Batman (Êlih), into a modest and patriotic family. Her family came from a background shaped by Kurdistan’s rebellious tradition and a strong spirit of resistance to Turkish colonialism. When she was only one year old, her family moved to the center of Batman. She was raised in a democratic household, free from feudal restraints. From an early age, she became conscious of patriotism, and this awareness shaped her personality. She grew into a courageous, bold, combative, and selfless Kurdish woman.

Raised in a family rooted in the rebellious spirit of Yolağzı, Bermal was deeply influenced by her surroundings. Her family got to know the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) in the 1970s and blended their combative character with the party's consciousness. In this environment, she developed an independent personality. Even as a young child, she was full of energy, challenged boys, and displayed remarkable bravery. She finished primary school and left formal education. Shaped by her family’s patriotism and the presence of comrades visiting their home, she matured early. By the age of thirteen or fourteen, she had recognized the oppression of Kurdistan and the cruelty of the colonial order. She realized that liberation was possible only through the party, and she devoted her heart to that path.

Lively as mercury, tough yet deeply warm-hearted, martyr Bermal left a lasting impact on those around her. In 1985, she met Numan Bağcı and expressed her desire to participate actively in the party. She rejected traditional family norms and male-female relations, fighting instead for a free life. Her family, uncomfortable with her bold stance, decided to marry her off, but Bermal defied them, declaring, “There is no room in my heart for any other love,” affirming her devotion to the party. In 1988, she officially joined the struggle. The home, for her, was merely a shelter; her true home was the ranks of the struggle.

The years of struggle: the rise of the uprising woman

Bermal joined party activities in 1987 and 1988. In 1989, she was captured in Amed (Diyarbakır) and imprisoned for a while. Prison became a school of consciousness for her. She internalized the resistance of Mazlum, Kemal, and Hayri, and declared, “Absolute devotion to the party, to President Öcalan, and to the martyrs is the only path to life in Kurdistan.” After her release, she continued to work under the threats of the counter-guerrilla forces. Due to financial hardship, she started working at the Tekel factory in Batman in 1989. But she did not stop there, she organized women workers, gathered support for the guerrilla and the prisoners, and became a magnetic force through her warmth and sensitivity.

After nearly four years of work, her activities were noticed, and she was removed from the area. During this time, her brother Faik Ortaç and her nephew Çetin Abayay were murdered by counter-guerrilla forces. She, too, was under constant threat. At the Newroz of 1990, she threw the first stone at the police, igniting the fire of the uprising (kr: serhildan). She became known as the “Serhildan Girl,” and was affectionately called “Sister Şükran” in every neighborhood. She won the love of the people, she became a comrade in every home, a source of hope in every heart. In 1992, following the killing of three guerrilla fighters in the village of Sabe, she mobilized the people. She confronted the enemy commander directly, grabbing him by the collar and saying: “Either you burn us all or you return the bodies of our martyrs.” The enemy, in fear, backed down.

Prison and torture

She was arrested five times and subjected to torture between 1990 and 1993, yet never abandoned resistance. She was tortured using the Palestinian hanging method, electric shocks, and batons. She followed in the footsteps of Kemal Pir, who said, “I love life so much that I would die for it.” Her words were clear: “Even if they tear my body apart, I will never betray.” She endured forty days of torture and brought her enemy to their knees. When she was released, her right arm and ribs were broken, her body partially paralyzed, and she was reduced to skin and bones. In April 1993, she joined the guerrilla ranks in the Garzan region. Due to continued physical ailments, she was later sent to Adana for treatment and to support mass organizing efforts. In August 1995, she moved to Dersim.

The 4th National Conference of the party, held at that time, adopted a decision in favor of self-sacrificing actions. Across Dersim and all corners of Kurdistan, the enemy was relentlessly carrying out brutal policies against the people. Martyr Bermal understood that such decisions must first be embodied in one’s own actions in order to succeed. Faced with the enemy’s barbaric attacks and massacres, she decided to carry out the conference's call for self-sacrificing actions. She knew that this action would embody the spirit of the era and the essence of the party's struggle. In creating life through death, she would express her eternal devotion to President Öcalan, to the martyrs, and to her people in the most powerful way her heart could conceive.

Self-sacrificing action

In the report she wrote before her self-sacrificing action, martyr Bermal shared her feelings with President Öcalan in these words: “My dear President, even if I devoted my entire being to my people, it is still nothing compared to your efforts and dedication. I only wish I had more than my life to give to this sacred struggle. It was my greatest wish to see you, to speak with you, and to benefit from your sacred education. That never became possible. But through your instructions and analyses, I always felt you closely. How fortunate you are to be the leader of a struggle for which thousands are ready to sacrifice their lives without hesitation. We are proud to have a leader who does not fear to launch a relentless fight against the greatest enemies on earth, and who resists all injustice and ugliness.”

It was October 29, 1996, Republic Day in Turkey. She strapped explosives to her body and made her final preparations. Together with her comrade Kendal, she set out toward the area where the state’s celebrations were being held. Her goal was to carry out a self-sacrificing action there. But the enemy, fearing possible actions after previous attacks, had imposed heavy security measures throughout Sivas. They walked calmly through the streets, but they were both stopped at a checkpoint. The police became suspicious of Bermal and Kendal and detained them. Bermal, who was dressed in a black chador, was not searched, and the explosives went unnoticed. She remained calm and composed, waiting with patience.

The police took them to the station, planning to send them to the anti-terror branch for interrogation. Before the vehicle could even move, Bermal made her decision. She detonated the explosives. At that moment, time stood still. Her courage shook even death itself. Through her self-sacrificing action, she immortalized her name on the path of martyrdom.