YJA Star Central Headquarters Command issued a statement to pay tribute to the Kato martyrs. The statement said: “Women played a leading role in the initial formation of communal natural society and humanity. With their mother-goddess culture, they created a democratic civilization both materially and spiritually. They formed the stem cells of today's society and humanity. Kurdish women played a role in the process of socialization of humanity and carried the values of communal society until today. The Kurdish woman's commitment to sociality, strong culture and deep historical roots have led to the formation of the most noble vein of resistance in her. This spirit of resistance, has been seen in names and events in the historical process of thousands of years, and has also been embodied in our recent history in the person of our women who did not surrender to the enemy by jumping from cliffs in Besêler, Zarifeler, Rindexanlar and Dersim Tertelesi.”

The statement continued: “With the emergence of the PKK, the freedom movement of humanity, the historical tradition of resistance of Kurdish women has turned into the Women's Liberation Ideology, the Women's Freedom Movement, the women's party and the army, over the decades of struggle. Free Kurdish women's becoming an ideology, movement, party, army and free life system was also possible thanks to the resistance of the Free Kurdish women.”

Kato resistance, one of the noblest resistance in the history of women’s freedom

The statement added: “One of the historical examples that most represents the noble stance of free Kurdish women for thousands of years has been the great women's resistance in Kato. As it is known, in the spring of 2017, the misogynist and genocidal Turkish state launched a comprehensive invasion operation against Mount Kato in the Beytüşşebap region. Against this comprehensive attack by the Turkish army, our YJA Star force in the Kato region responded with epic resistance.

From its commanders to its fighters, our YJA Star force in Kato has fought against the fascist Turkish army in the toughest terrain and in the harshest weather conditions with a will of steel. Our female comrades, who fought in the snow for days, whose hands and feet were frozen but whose hearts burned like fire and never surrendered, put up a relentless struggle. Together with our comrades Nudem Nurhak and Hêvî Sorxwîn, who led this resistance, our friends Rûken Gever, Barîn Şîlan, Avaşîn Çirav, Zinarîn Arjin, Xwînda Kato, Stêrk Efrîn, Zîlan Qerejdax and Arîn Qerejdax, under the command of Raperin Amed and Roza Hêlîn, reached martyrdom by fighting heroically. As we commemorate these dear comrades with respect on their anniversary, we express our condolences to their families and to all women. The epic Kato resistance, embodied in the persons of our 12 female comrades, is full of important lessons and has been one of the noblest resistances that will never be forgotten in our history of women's liberation. We are proud to have such resistance, beautiful, warlike, brave and valiant comrades. As YJA Star, we are honoured to walk in the footsteps of these comrades today.”