Ciwana Tolhildan has been part of the YPG/YPJ since the beginning, along with her husband and three sons. She stated that they will not hesitate to defend the revolution they paid such a high price for against the Turkish state, now openly hostile.

There are countless families who join the YPG and the YPJ, and Huseyin family is one of them. Ciwana Tolhildan (Leyla Huseyin) is a 40 year old mother of four. In the first days of the Rojava Revolution, she took her place in the ranks, along with her 3 sons and husband. She took part in several operations despite her friends’ protests. Now Ciwana works in the military court for the YPJ while her youngest son waits until he turns 18 to join the YPG. Her son Çekdar is in the ongoing Wrath of Euphrates operation. Ciwana says being part of the YPG and the YPJ will all her family is a great honor for them.

THEY ARE AT THE CORE OF THE FORMING ARMY

Ciwana’s interest in freedom movements began as a child and continued into her teenage years. But she was made to marry, while she was still in high school. She ended up having 4 children. When efforts for the Rojava Revolution began in 2011, she seized the opportunity, along with her husband and 3 sons. Ciwana and her family joined the first core of the military forces before YPG and YPJ, the YXK. She said the following on the process of joining the revolution: “I was uncomfortable with the fact that I couldn’t do anything for my country and my people, despite being interested in the Kurdish Freedom Struggle since I was a child. The start of the Rojava Revolution created excitement for all of us. We loved our country and our people, and finally we would do something for us. My husband and sons agreed. At first we were all in the YXK. During that time, my friends told me, ‘You are a mother of 4, what are you doing in the military force?’ I didn’t listen to them. As a Kurdish woman, I should have taken my part in defending myself, my children and my motherland. My husband and sons were greatly supportive in this issue as well.”

THE FOUNDING OF YPG AND YPJ

Ciwana, her husband and her children took part in the founding of the YPG after the YXK. While Ciwana organized recruits for the YPG, her husband and 3 sons were among the first battalions of the YPG. Ciwana worked in recruiting in the first battalions of YPJ in 2013 in Qamishlo and had administration duties in some YPJ battalions founded in some districts of Qamishlo.

DESPITE THE COST, ALWAYS MORE

Ciwana pointed out the days the YPJ battalions were formed and the distinction of joining the ranks as a woman: “In the beginning, we were Kurdish women. But later internationalist women and Arab women started to join. Against a formidable enemy like ISIS, we as women waged a great struggle. Among the YPJ recruits were other mothers like myself. We all went through similar but unique hardships. Everybody participated with such great spirit that hardship and pain couldn’t wipe the smile off our face. On the contrary, as we fought and we succeeded, whatever the price may be, we found more morale and joined the struggle more. The revolution made us smile, despite all the price we paid.”

THE LOVE OF REVOLUTION IS A COMMON PASSION

Ciwana stressed that it wasn’t easy joining the revolution and the military forces with her children and husband. She admitted the hardships of being a mother but she faced that hardship head on, with the country and the people. Ciwana said: “As YPG and YPJ forces, we took part in violent battles. Of course like every mother, I was worried for my children but I was at ease because I was also part of the struggle and the war like them. Thousands of families gave their children to the revolution. Their children and my children were not different at all. They were all my children, and more importantly, comrades. My husband and my children became my comrades in the struggle. The love of revolution became a common passion for us.”

THE WHOLE FAMILY IN THE BATTLE OF TIL NASIR

In 2014, near Til Koçer, battle broke out in Til Nasır. This was the front line for ISIS and Rojava forces. Ciwana participated in this battle with her YPJ battalion and her husband and sons were in YPG battalions. Ciwana went back to those days and continued to share: “That was an incredible feeling. Friends kept telling me it wasn’t right for me to fight in this battle, and I should return to the checkpoint. They said, ‘The whole family can’t be in battle, we must protect you as well’. I didn’t accept. My husband and sons were told the same, but they also refused. It was a truly beautiful and proud moment for us.”

HER SON IS IN THE RAQQA OPERATION

Ciwana, her husband and her sons are cadres of YPG and YPJ now. Ciwana is a member of the military court of the YPJ. Her husband is in the YPG logistics units. Her son Çekdar is a YPG commander and is currently in the Wrath of Euphrates operation for the liberation of the Raqqa region. And her youngest son is waiting until he turns 18 to join the YPG.

UNITED WITH YPG AND YPJ

Ciwana stressed that her family placed great importance on all revolutionary efforts, but the YPG and YPJ have a special place in their hearts: “There was and still is a great struggle in Rojava. We have thousands of martyrs. Mothers put their best daughters and sons into the ground. Some don’t even have the bodies. We achieved great gains through such efforts, we built our life and system. Defense has been extremely important for us since the beginning of the revolution. In time, we understood the importance of the YPJ better and we united, we became one with it. And in the future, we will work on strengthening YPG and YPJ.”

"WE ARE AWARE OF THE TURKISH THREAT"

Ciwana pointed out that strengthening YPG and YPJ is as vital today as it was in the revolution period. “What we earned with our blood and our life, our common and free life are under great threats,” said Ciwana and pointed to the latest attack by the Turkish state. Ciwana stated that the Turkish state is now openly hostile and added: “I am a mother and I am a YPJ member. Thousands of mothers like me gave their children to the revolution. We didn’t start this struggle to bow down to fascist Erdoğan. He should know that as the Kurdish women, mothers and families, we are the YPJ and the YPG. We are raising our children with feelings of patriotism and resistance. We will resist any and all attacks. We are growing every day and we are getting stronger.”