Ivana Hoffmann laid to rest

Thousands bid farewell to MLKP fighter Ivana Hoffmann (Avaşin Tekoşin Güneş), who lost her life fighting ISIS attacks in Cizirê Canton of Rojava on 7 March, in the German city of Duisburg yesterday.

Thousands bid farewell to MLKP (Marxist Leninist Communist Party) fighter Ivana Hoffmann (Avaşin Tekoşin Güneş), who lost her life fighting ISIS attacks in Cizirê Canton of Rojava, West Kurdistan, on 7 March, in the German city of Duisburg yesterday.

The commemoration organized by Kurdish Women's Movement in Europe (TJK-E) and Socialist Women's Union (SKB) started with a march from Amtsgericht Hamborn to the Duisburg Cemetery.

Some five thousand people joined the march, including representatives of many left-wing and socialist organizations, TJK-E, SKB, PYD, German Marxist-Leninist Communist Party and NAV-DEM, as well as PYD Co-president Salih Muslim, HDP Co-president Figen Yüksekdağ, KCD-E Co-president Dilşa Osman.

Following an-hour march, the mass reached the cemetery where representatives of various organizations held speeches praising the fraternity and solidarity of peoples.

The first speech on behalf of MLKP Women's Organization said that; "Comrade Ivana was martyred fighting for the freedom of peoples. She is a symbol of freedom. She died defending the Assyrian, Syriac, Kurdish and Arab peoples. We commemorate the Til Temir martyrs with respect. Comrade Ivana will be living in our struggle. We call on all women to claim the struggle of Ivana."

Songül Talay who spoke on behalf of TJK-E called attention to the women's struggle in Rojava, said; "Comrades Arin Mirxan and Ivana Hoffmann became a symbol of the freedom struggle of the women and peoples against ISIS gangs in Rojava. We call on everyone to join the struggle."

PYD (Democratic Union Party) Co-president Salih Muslim said he bowed respectfully before the Hoffmann family, adding; "The fight we have been giving against the ISIS gangs in Rojava is a resistance for humanity against barbarians -the servants of imperialists- that know no values and attack all human values, killing women and children. This humanitarian struggle of the Rojava people has become an international one today. German citizen Ivana Hoffmann, Australian YPG fighter Ashley Johnston, British fighter Erik Konstandeno Scorfield are all an example proving this truth. We will pursue the struggle of these martyrs. Humanity is reborn in Mesopotamia and resounding across the world. Rojava is going to win as long as there are fighters like Ivana Hoffmann."

Speaking after, HDP (Peoples' Democratic Party) Co-president Figen Yüksekdağ said that the world revolution has been ignited in Rojava and is expanding to the world now. "Revolutionaries such as Ivana Hoffmann, Serkan Tosun, Nejat Suphi Ağırnaslı didn't go to Rojava to support the fight, as they were already a part and owner of this struggle. Ivana Hoffmann became a light for the peoples and this light should be made brighter." Yüksekdağ also called on women and youths to support the struggle of Ivana and her comrades.

The ceremony which witnessed emotional moments and drew intense interest from the German press continued with the reading out of messages sent by the TKP / ML and Internationalist Brigade in Rojava.

Following the official ceremony, Hoffman was laid to rest by her family.