Jazira, Euphrates residents; Kongra Star in Beirut commemorate martyr Beritan

On the occasion of the 33rd anniversary of the martyrdom of activist Beritan Hevi (Kelnaz Karataş), which falls on October 25 each year, the Kongra Star, alongside the Hilal Zirin Women’s Cultural Movement and in cooperation with the Mesopotamia Democratic Culture and Arts Movement, organized a series of commemorative events in the cities of Çil Agha, Amuda, Qamishlo, and the town of Rmelan in the Jazira Canton, as well as in the city of Kobani in the Euphrates Canton.

In this context, the Women’s Council of the Democratic Society Movement issued a statement on the occasion, and the Kongra Star in Beirut held a special event honoring her life and sacrifices.

Rmelan

The Kongra Star organized a meeting at the Workers’ Union Hall in Rmelan, attended by local residents and members of civil institutions. The meeting began with a minute of silence, followed by a speech from Kongra Star official Mahabat Mustafa from Qamishlo, highlighting Beritan’s revolutionary life, her great sacrifices, and her role in defending women’s and societal freedom.

Mahabat emphasized that remaining loyal to Beritan’s path and continuing her struggle is both a moral and political duty. She stressed that Beritan’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations as a symbol of resistance and struggle for freedom.

The meeting also featured a visual presentation highlighting key moments from Beritan’s life and struggle up to her martyrdom, concluding with the slogans “No life without a leader” and “Woman, Life, Freedom.”

Amuda

In Amuda, the Kongra Star held a commemoration ceremony beginning with a minute of silence, followed by a speech from member Mourra Zoro, detailing Beritan’s heroic resistance and her choice of martyrdom over surrender. She emphasized Beritan’s love for her homeland and belief in the philosophy of leader Abdullah Ocalan, affirming that her legacy will remain immortal in the memory of women and future generations.

The ceremony included a visual presentation of her life, from childhood through her studies, culminating in her martyrdom in the mountains of Kurdistan. The event ended with the distribution of “Halawiya,” a traditional sweet that Beritan had requested to be offered annually on her commemoration.

Çil Agha

In Jal Agha, the Kongra Star organized a memorial event at the city’s Culture and Arts Center, decorated with images of Beritan, Leader Abdullah Ocalan, and other freedom martyrs. Attendees included residents, community members, recently released Kurdish activist Sadiq Badian, civil and service institution members, and representatives of political parties and military forces.

The ceremony began with mothers of martyrs and guerrilla fighters lighting candles around Beritan’s image, followed by a minute of silence. Woman's Office member in the educational complex, Nuzha Saif al-Din, spoke about Beritan’s life and struggle in the ranks of the Kurdistan Freedom Movement. Sadiq Badian also delivered a speech, calling Beritan “a symbol of free life and strong will in Kurdistan,” and reaffirmed the commitment to continue the struggle on her path. 

The event concluded with a video presentation highlighting key moments from the life of the martyr Beritan, along with excerpts from leader Abdullah Ocalan’s assessments of her character and struggle.

At the end, the slogans "Woman, Life, Freedom, and the Martyrs are Immortal, and No Life Without the Leader" were chanted, followed by the distribution of sweets to the attendees.

Qamishlo 

The Mesopotamia Democratic Culture and Arts Movement (TEV-ÇAND) and Hilal Zirin Movement held a commemoration at the Muhammad Sheikhno Culture and Arts Center in Qamishlo, attended by members of both organizations. The event began with a minute of silence, followed by a speech from Hilal Zirin member Shirin Rashid, recalling all freedom martyrs and noting that Beritan’s struggle proved that women, like men, are capable of resistance and defense.

The commemoration events began with a minute of silence, followed by a speech from Shirin Rashid, a member of the Hilal Zirin Movement. She recalled all the martyrs of the Freedom Movement and said, “Martyr Beritan’s struggle was for the love of her homeland. She proved that it is not only men who carry weapons; women are also capable of resistance and defense.”

After the speech, a video presentation was shown about Beritan’s life and her guerrilla work. The Martyr Hêvi Group performed a set of revolutionary songs. The event concluded with the participating women preparing and distributing “halawiya” (sweets).

Beirut

Kongra Star members in Lebanon commemorated the 33rd anniversary of the martyrdom of activist Beritan. The ceremony began with a minute of silence in honor of the martyrs. Conference member Leila Muhammad delivered a speech recalling all resistance martyrs and highlighting Beritan’s courageous and organized nature, her dedication to activism, and her commitment to camaraderie.

Muhammad emphasized that “the martyrdom of Beritan had a profound impact on the Kurdistan Freedom Movement and the course of the war during that period.”

The ceremony concluded with a video presentation about Beritan’s life and struggle, renewing inspiration and loyalty to the martyrs of freedom.

Democratic Society Movement Women’s Council

The Women’s Council of the Democratic Society Movement issued a statement declaring: “Beritan embodied the highest meanings of courage and determination for freedom. She refused to surrender, broke her weapon with her own hands, shouted ‘Long live Leader Apo,’ and threw herself from the hilltop, leaving an everlasting symbol of struggle in the movement’s memory.”

The statement added that she “became an icon of women’s resistance, answering betrayal with adherence to freedom and opening the path of dignity and honor for the women of Kurdistan.” It also noted that Leader Abdullah Ocalan described her as the “Joan of Arc of Kurdistan,” and that her resistance represents the honor of the movement and the dignity of the people.

The statement concluded by emphasizing that “Beritan will remain a beacon of hope and a symbol of resistance, inspiring future generations in the struggle for a free and democratic life.”

Kobani

The Kongra Star Council organized a gathering at the Baki Khado Culture and Arts Hall in Kobani, attended by dozens of locals, martyrs’ families, and female institution representatives. The event began with a minute of silence, followed by a speech from Star Conference coordinator in Kobani, Nowruz Dersim, about Beritan’s struggle.

Martyrs’ families then lit candles, and a video presentation about Beritan’s life and struggle was shown. The meeting concluded with the slogans “Woman, Life, Freedom” and “Resistance is Life.”

Aleppo

The Kongra Star held a series of meetings across its three councils in the eastern and western neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah, attended by women, conference members, political party representatives, civil institutions, and local committees. The meetings began with a minute of silence for the martyrs.

Speeches highlighted Beritan’s life and resistance, emphasizing her choice of martyrdom over surrender to enemies and traitors, breaking her weapon and throwing herself from the mountaintop, as an embodiment of a free woman’s will, which does not accept defeat. Her camaraderie, interest in literature and poetry, strong stance, free thinking, and adherence to the principles of a free woman qualified her to lead fronts.

The speeches stressed that Beritan’s guerrilla operation during her siege by traitors in 1992 will remain alive in the memory of women striving for freedom, and that they follow her path with gratitude for her sacrifice, which paved the way for women to reach unprecedented levels in various arenas, including decision-making centers.

The meetings concluded with the participating women preparing “halawiya (sweets)” and distributing them to attendees.

Deir ez-Zor

The Women of Zenobia Council in Deir ez-Zor organized a meeting attended by dozens of local women at the council’s center in al-Kasra city. 

The meeting began with a minute of silence honoring the martyrs, followed by a speech from council administrator Khatam al-Hussein, who spoke about Beritan’s life, sacrifices, and struggle for freedom.

Khatam stated that Beritan was a model of a free woman who preferred death over betrayal. A video presentation of her struggle was then shown. The meeting concluded with participants lighting candles to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of Beritan’s martyrdom.

A-H 

ANHA