YPG fighter Şirin Kalkan (Slav Dara) has been laid to rest today by women in the Edremit district of Van.

YPJ fighter Şirin Kalkan (Slav Dara), who lost her life in clashes with the ISIS gangs in Kobanê, has been laid to rest today after a large funeral in the Edremit district of women. The coffin of Kalkan was carried by women to the Köyiçi graveyard.

The funeral of Kalkan was attended by many people, including the HDP Van deputy Özdal Uçar, party executives of the DBP Van branch, the co-mayor of Van as well as the co-mayors of Edremit, lawyers, journalists and representatives of NGOs. The crowd carried the flags of the PKK and posters of the Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan while chanting slogans, “Long Live the YPJ”, “Long Live the Kobane resistance” and “ISIS, the murderer, AKP, the collaborator”.

It was again the women who buried Kalkan. Some soil sent from Kobanê was also put on the body of Kalkan.

Following a minute’s silence for all those who have fallen in the struggle for peace and freedom, the DBP Van branch co-chair Hamiyet Şahin made a speech stressing that the struggle for free Kurdistan is a struggle of women, coming from Zilan, Beritan, Viyan and continuing with Şirin. Şahin said their memories must be kept alive, adding that it is the women who will do so and remain loyal to the legacy left by these women. 

The father of Şirin Kalkan, Ali Kalkan, said they will continue her struggle. Following the funeral, the crowd went to a tent where they offered their condolences to the family.