Murdered by the Turkish secret service in Paris ten years ago, the Kurdish revolutionaries Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez were commemorated at their graves in their hometowns on Monday.

In Dersim, the birthplace of PKK co-founder Sakine Cansız, a memorial ceremony was first held in the HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) building. HDP MP Meral Danış Beştaş explained at the event that the political killings on 9 January 2013 were specifically targeted against the Kurdish women's movement: "The attack also targeted history, memory, youth and diplomatic work. This massacre was not a random hit, it was precisely planned in terms of time and place. The target was Kurdish women, whose organised strength has always worried the rulers."

On 3 January 2013, Turkish state representatives travelled to the prison island of Imrali for the first time for talks with Abdullah Öcalan, Beştaş continued: "This talk was supposed to pave the way for a new solution, which was supported in Turkey, in Kurdistan and on an international level. Six days later, this attack took place. Abdullah Öcalan said afterwards that the killings were as important as the Dersim massacre. He said that the perpetrators must be exposed."

Referring to the book "My whole life was a struggle" written by Sakine Cansız in the mountains of Kurdistan, Meral Danış Beştaş said at the end of her speech: "This struggle will never end".

After the event, the participants wanted to lay flowers at Sakine Cansız's grave in the city cemetery. Police and gendarmerie sealed off the access road and attacked the crowd. Only a small group around HDP MP Meral Danış Beştaş was allowed through and was able to lay carnations at the gravesite.