YJŞ fighter Arya Zekî killed by flood in Shengal laid to rest

A young fighter of the YJŞ died in the flood disaster in Shengal. Arya Zekî's body was only found after a two-day search and laid to rest today.

The Press Office of Shengal Women’s Units (YJŞ) announced the death of one of their fighters, Arya Zekî, in the flood disaster on 15 March.

In the middle of the week, heavy rainfall triggered floods in large parts of Kurdistan, including in the Yazidi settlement area of Shengal (Sinjar) in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). According to the YJŞ, the body of Arya Zekî was only found after a two-day search.

Arya Zekî's real name was Neam Xidir and she was born in 2004 in Xeyalê in Shengal. According to the YJŞ, the trigger for her joining the YJŞ was the murder of Zekî Şengalî by a Turkish killer drone. The YJŞ paid tribute to Arya Zekî as a young fighter in search of a free life.

The YJŞ fighter was laid to rest following a ceremony at Şehit Dilgeş-Şehit Berxwedan Cemetery of Martys in Shengal today.

In a speech in the name of the Committee of Martyrs’ Families, Meyan Nasır said: “The enemy wages a war against the Yazidi community, not allowing us to live on these lands. Yet, the enemy has not achieved its goal thanks to our fighters. We are proud of our fighters who have been defending us.”