9 January marked the tenth anniversary of the first Paris massacre of Kurdish revolutionaries Sakine Cansız (Sara), Fidan Doğan (Rojbîn) and Leyla Şaylemez (Ronahî). Fighters from the YJA Star (Free Women’s Troops) and HPG (People’s Defense Forces) in the Kurdish mountains remember the martyrs and demand accountability.

"SARA'S STRUGGLE HAS ENLIGHTENED AND INSPIRED US"

In reference to murdered PKK founding member Sakine Cansız, YJA Star fighter Dünya Havar said: "Comrade Sara's struggle is a source of inspiration, especially for young women. We consider comrade Sara as a symbol of the free woman. She participated as a woman in the founding congress of our party, and she played an active role in the resistance in Amed dungeon. That and how she spat in the face of her torturer, Esat Oktay, made a deep impression on me. Our comrade Sara was the biggest motivation for us young women to join the party. Without Sara's tireless struggle, we women and young people would perhaps have continued to live as slaves. The PKK struggle and Sara's attitude have enlightened us."

"SARA MADE THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION TO THE BUILDING OF THE WOMEN'S ARMY"

Speaking about the massacre of 9 January 2013, YJA Star guerrilla Warşîn Çiya said: "I remember comrades Sara, Ronahî and Rojbîn with respect and gratitude. The massacre of 9 January has deeply affected our people and us. Because comrade Sara was a friend who had been a pioneer since the foundation of the party. Comrade Sara was a friend who made the greatest contribution to the struggle of women and the building of the women's army. The fact that she called her own book 'My whole life was a struggle' shows her personality. I was very impressed by the book. We consider comrade Sara as a goddess of life. Her beauty is reflected in her face. We may not have met in person, but we can see her devotion to the party and the martyrs as well as to our leader, whether in the memories of her friends, in her book or in her pioneering role in the women's struggle. Her contributions to the global women's liberation struggle are well known. Since the party's inception, her resistance and rebellion against the patriarchal mentality has been a source of inspiration for women from many countries."

"AS THEIR FOLLOWERS, WE WILL INTENSIFY OUR STRUGGLE"

Çiya also recalled those murdered in Paris on 23 December 2022: "I would also like to condemn here the massacre of 23 December. The enemy wants to take revenge on women by once again targeting the pioneers of the women's liberation struggle. The slogan 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadî' [Woman, Life, Freedom] has spread all over the world. Comrades Sara and Evîn became targets because they lived this slogan. We, as their followers, will intensify our struggle. In every step we take, comrade Sara is the greatest source of inspiration for us. Once again, I remember the martyrs of Paris and all our martyrs in the person of comrades Sara and Evîn."

"COMRADE SARA REPRESENTS REBELLION"

HPG guerrilla Firat Amed said: "I remember all our martyrs, especially comrade Sara. I can say the following about comrade Sara: especially in the Amed dungeon, she put up great resistance against intense torture and became a leader of the struggle in the prison. Öcalan said: 'Sakine Cansız never bowed her head, she never bowed to the enemy in any way. No matter how much torture she suffered, she did not show weakness but weakened the enemy, she was not defeated and did not surrender because she had a formidable will.' Comrade Sara represents rebellion both against the enemy and against internal reactionary approaches. She was always a fighter based on the party line. To prevent any corruption in the party, she followed the party line and passed on this consciousness."

"SARA IS THE SYMBOL OF THE FREE WOMAN IN THE PARTY"

Firat Amed continued, "Comrade Sara participated selflessly in the fulfilment of every task. She made sacrifice her life practice. She continued to develop along the line of women's liberation and created a free personality within herself. The people saw this sincerity. The women saw this, so comrade Sara means a lot to us. Sara has always been a source of inspiration for us. Every time we remember her, our participation in the struggle becomes more effective. When we look at her, we see the party line.

When the Paris massacre was committed, the people stood up for comrade Sara and the other comrades. There were riots. Because Sara was the symbol of the free woman at the party. At this point, I would also like to remember all our martyrs."