The Lyon City Council has approved to name the square in the neighbourhood of Guillotière, near the old Citroen garage, after Hevrîn Xelef.

Born on November 15, 1984, Hevrîn Xelef was brutally murdered by Turkey-backed mercenary groups near Girê Spî on October 12, 2019. Xelef was a member of the executive board of the Syrian Democratic Council as well as the Secretary General of the Future Party of Syria.

Franny Dubot, mayor of Lyon's 7th District, said that “I commemorate Hevrîn Xelef who became a peace symbol in a war-torn country. Syrian, Kurdish and feminist woman was murdered at the age of 35.”

Sonia Zdorovdzoff, responsible for International Solidarity in Lyon municipality, said, “The municipality wants to encourage the Kurdish people's struggle against the Islamic State and congratulate all men and women who are striving for peace and democracy in Syria.”

This is the first time Xelef's name is given to a square in France. The square will be officially inaugurated by Mayor Gregory Doucet on September 21 at 18:00.

Thierry Lamberthod, President of Lyon Kurdish Friendship Association, welcomed the decision, saying, “If a voice for the Kurds and for peace in the Middle East fades away, we will continue to raise it here.”

Lamberthod stated that the municipality will open an exhibition introducing Xelef and her struggle.