Revolutionary women commemorated in Zurich

"These massacres targeted the struggle of Kurdish women to exist."

A tribute was organised in Zurich for Sakine Cansız (Sara), KNK Paris representative Fidan Doğan (Rojbîn) and Young People Movement member Leyla Şaylemez (Ronahî), and for women activists Sêvê Demir, Fatma Uyar, Pakize Nayir and martyr Zeynep Baytar.

Sakine Cansız (Sara), KNK Paris representative Fidan Doğan (Rojbîn) and Youth Movement member Leyla Şaylemez (Ronahî) were murdered in Paris on 9 January 2013.

Sêvê Demir, Fatma Uyar, Pakize Nayir were women activists who were murdered in Silopi on 5 January 2016, Zeynep Baytar (Devrim Andok) was a guerrilla who fell martyr on 10 September 2019.

Hundreds attended the commemoration organized by the Swiss Kurdish Women's Union (YJK-S) at the Kurdish Community Center. Photographs of the martyrs were covering the hall.

CDK co-chair Songül Arslan, who spoke on behalf of the Swiss Kurdish Women's Union, said: . "These massacres targeted the struggle of Kurdish women to exist."

After a documentary about the life and struggle of Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez, there was a reading of the poems written by Sakine Cansız.

European Kurdish Women's Movement (TJK-E) activist Şükran Sincar started her speech by commemorating the martyrs.

"We know that these murders are the continuation of the February 15 [1999, when Abdullah Ocalan was abducted in Kenya] conspiracy. In the face of this massacre targeting the freedom of Kurdish women, we will bring our struggle to victory by embracing the resistance spirits of the many Saras, Rojbin, Ronahi and Pakize. This is our promise to our martyrs."

Speeches were also delivered by a Peace Mother and the SKB (Socialist Women's Union). 

Leyla Sahin, from the SKB said that "the struggle for freedom of Kurdish women and women of the world is the result of the struggle carried out by the women commemorated today."

A group of Tamil people also joined the commemoration. Speaking at the tribute, the Tamil representatives expressed their solidarity with the Kurdish people's struggle for freedom.