PAJK underlines importance of guerrilla Zîlan

25 years ago, the guerrilla Zeynep Kınacı (Zîlan) blew herself up in a Turkish military unit in Dersim. The PAJK commemorates the legendary fighter and her significance today.

On 30 June 1996, guerrilla Zeynep Kınacı (Nom de Guerre: Zîlan) blew herself up in a Turkish military unit in Dersim on her own initiative, thus setting a beacon for the Kurdish freedom movement. The Party of Free Women of Kurdistan (Partiya Azadiya Jin a Kurdistanê, PAJK) declares on the occasion of the anniversary of her death that Zilan's attitude today constitutes the spirit of guerrilla resistance against the Turkish occupation in Kurdistan.

The statement said: “A war is currently taking place that will determine the future of the Kurdish people. There is hard fighting from Medya Defense Areas to Botan and Amed. The destruction of our movement, the Turkish occupation attacks on guerrilla areas and the special war against our people and women are part of a genocidal concept. At the center of this war is Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan], and we must act with this awareness. The fighters of the YJA Star and HPG respond to the massive attacks and plans of extermination following Zîlan’s path with great willingness to make sacrifices.” The statement added: “The current time also reminds us of our tasks and our responsibilities. Our movement and the Kurdish people must fight against fascism and the occupation efforts carried out by the misanthropic and misogynist AKP-MHP regime with the self-sacrificing spirit and methods of comrade Zîlan. In this historically significant time, the achievements of the Kurdish people must be preserved and the values ​​of women's struggle defended. Our people and our women's liberation movement will win."