Five guerrillas were killed and two others injured in the Xelîfan region in South Kurdistan in August 2021 as a consequence of an ambush by armed forces linked with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which is engaged in Turkey's activities against the Federal Kurdistan Region. Families of the two guerrillas from Rojava, Tolhildan Raman and Serdem Cudi, who are among the five slain guerrillas, have since been trying to cross from North and East Syria to the Kurdistan Region through the Semalka Border Crossing to receive the bodies of their martyrs. On the 5th of October, the Cizîre District Martyrs' Families Council and families of HPG members began a vigil in response to the blockade.

The mothers and relatives joining the protest action in a tent at Semelka border crossing for 95 days have repeatedly been denied entry to South Kurdistan by the KDP forces, and have been put off with false promises. The KDP had promised to hand over the bodies of the martyrs to the families, but so far nothing has happened. The relatives are determined to continue their protest action until they succeed.

On the other hand, the Faysh Khabur and El-Waleed Border Crossings were closed following the Revolutionary Youth and Young Women's Union's protest at the Semalka Border Crossing, which was attacked by the KDP on December 15.

Today, local people from Girke Lege city took over the vigil from a group from the town of Çilaxa.

Noting that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) officials have not handed over the bodies of guerrillas to their families for three months now, the Co-chair of Girke Lege District Council, Newroz Ehmed, said; “The people here say that they will not end this vigil until they get the bodies of their martyrs. Peace Mothers and the youth wanted to express their demands at Peshxabur Border Crossing, but the KDP responded to them by closing the border crossings.”