Testament of Afrin’s hero Akid is resistance

In his final message from Tishrin Dam, journalist Akid Roj urged for intensified resistance, saying: “My brother and comrade Djwar, we will raise the voice of resistance to the highest mountains and spread it everywhere together; you with your weapon at the Qereqozaqê Bridge, and I with my pen and camera at Tishrin Dam.”

Civilizations were built on agriculture, and the deeper the roots of agricultural culture in blessed lands, the more they flourished and became the cradle of heroes. The city of olives, with its natural beauty, became the subject of bedtime stories told in candlelight and lanterns, beloved by famous artists like Bavi Salah, who sang epic songs about it.

Afrin represents the ideal, stunning nature. Journalist and academic Nûkhan Akarsal described it perfectly in her work From the Meadows of Jineology: Afrin, stating:  “Afrin is the only city whose essence is reflected in its form.”

Sharvan Sido, known by his code name Akid Roj, was born in this city in 1997. His family had already taken their stance and occupied frontline positions in serving their homeland before his birth. They named their children after national revolutionaries, and in the same spirit, they named Sharvan after one of them. They raised their children on stories of sacrifice and struggle. As the revolutionary wave surged through his homeland, a young Sharvan grew impatient. Despite his age, he chose to engage in the struggle, joining the revolution in Afrin on December 4, 2012. Through dedication and relentless effort, he quickly outgrew his youth and developed himself within the revolution, receiving professional, military, and ideological training.

As a war correspondent, Akid joined the frontlines and worked with the same determination from his first day to his last. He was wounded in Aleppo while covering the intense battles but soon recovered and returned to the battlefield. In 2018, the Turkish invasion of Afrin deeply affected him, as he had spent his childhood playing in its streets. For over two months, he documented and reported on the resistance alongside the fighters. He later covered the displaced Afrin population in Shahba camps, working tirelessly in the region.

Comrade Akid Roj upheld the tradition of free media and never stopped reporting the truth. From Sheikh Maqsoud to Afrin, Shahba, and finally Tishrin Dam, he covered the battles and the resilience of the people. For 11 years, he worked in journalism, documenting resistance until his final breath.

As a journalist of truth, Akid played a vital role in exposing realities to counter the psychological warfare of the occupation. Through his videos and images, he brought the world closer to the people’s and fighters’ resistance at Tishrin Dam. He had planned to cover the resistance for 58 days, symbolizing the number of days Afrin held out against the invasion. However, after years of dedicated work, on February 15, 2025, Akid Roj was targeted by a Turkish drone strike while covering the handover of vigils between Hasaka and Qamishlo residents at Tishrin Dam.

Afrin’s occupation left a deep wound in Akid’s heart. He often spoke of his dream to return to a liberated Afrin, and in pursuit of that dream, he spent years listening to and documenting the stories of Afrin’s displaced people in Shahba camps. His relentless work earned him a place in the hearts of Afrin’s mothers and displaced families.

"Every moment, every heartbeat, for the homeland"

In a heartfelt message, Akid Roj wrote about Afrin, the city he loved more than anything: “The resistance of Afrin, its mountains, Shahba, its camps, and now Tishrin Dam embodies the highest meanings of patience and determination that I carry within me. I will always remember every moment, every heartbeat, and every look in the eyes of our heroes who fought to keep our dream alive. In the midst of this darkness, there is a light in the heart of every fighter, an undying flame of hope. Yes, perhaps I will not witness victory myself, but I believe that Afrin will be liberated one day. Afrin, the land of civilization and dignity, has witnessed the greatest resilience against the most brutal forces of oppression. From here, from this dam, I say: Do not despair. Do not let hopelessness enter your hearts, because victory is inevitable. One day, Afrin’s streets will be filled with joy and hope again, just as in the beautiful days of the past. I wish for its children to return, to play in its neighborhoods without fear, and for the sun of freedom to rise over its mountains, dispelling the darkness of occupation.

Afrin, which I loved with all my heart and which was always my source of inspiration, no matter how much time passes, this feeling will never fade.”

"I trusted and loved my comrades"

Akid’s mother, Sa’adah, wept for her martyred son but expressed pride in his path: “I was deeply touched by the lives of the comrades and their treatment of others. I welcomed them into my home, and my children grew up loving the revolutionaries of our homeland.” Her pride was reflected in the family’s commitment, after Akid, his sister and brother also joined the struggle. She vowed: “I will set up my tent at Tishrin Dam and will never abandon this frontline. I will not allow the occupier to cross the dam. I am proud of you, Akid.”

Freedom is energy

Heroism in Kurdistan is about rising and ascending towards the sky, reaching the stars. That is why its definition is the very definition of the Morning Star itself. In some regions of Kurdistan, the Morning Star is called the Star of Heroes (Akid), signifying wakefulness, awareness, and the focus a person has at dawn, the moment of realizing one's homeland, people, and geography. For this reason, the name Akid (hero) in Kurdistan carries a legendary meaning, embodying responsibility for nature, masculinity, and generosity. It represents the transcendence of the self and the pursuit of perfection. This is reflected in the figure of Masoum Korkmaz, who later took the code name Akid and became one of the most legendary figures in Mesopotamia.

The journalist Akid Roj adopted this name in light of his understanding of this definition. In his final article, he wrote: "Our hope for freedom stems from the thoughts of leader Abdullah Ocalan. We have learned from his ideology that freedom is not merely slogans; it is an energy that resides deep within us. Through his vision, we understand that victory will not come as easily as some might think, but it will be achieved through unwavering willpower."

"I am a witness to history"

Being a witness to history in journalism means delivering every piece of news, image, and scene to the public. Akid Roj, driven by this historical responsibility, headed to the Dam of Resistance and wrote from there: "I am not just a journalist; I am also a witness to history."

"Documenting moments of resistance"

Regarding the personality and work of Akid Roj during the Rojava Revolution, the Syrian Democratic Forces stated: "Akid Roj joined the revolutionary struggle early in 2012, at the onset of the revolution in North and East Syria. He fought for a period within the framework of legitimate defense activities. Later, he joined the field of journalism and worked for many years as a member of Free Media. He made great efforts in covering the resistances of Afrin, the Shahba regions, and Aleppo, documenting the struggles to liberate these areas from mercenary groups. In 2018, he spent more than two months alongside the fighters, covering and documenting the resistance operations in Afrin. Additionally, he worked for many years documenting the conditions of our displaced people in the Shahba regions."

His body was laid to rest at the Martyr Djwar Cemetery in the village of Al-Dawoudiya, near Al-Hasaka, in the presence of thousands of mourners.

"Akid, the symbol of honorable Kurdish identity"

During his funeral, a message was read from his sister Fajin Ararat, a journalist in the Free Women's Units - Star Media, who covers the resistance against occupation in the mountains of Kurdistan. In her letter, she wrote: "Today, we bid farewell to another hero who marches toward the sun. Every farewell to a martyr is a source of pride for us, it is evidence of our just and rightful cause, strengthening our promise and reinforcing our determination for a free life. We must all take pride in Akid’s martyrdom because he attained it on a sacred and honorable path. Know that Akid is a symbol of the honorable Kurdish identity, and you can take pride in his work and struggle until the very end. Regardless of how much sorrow we feel now, we know that when we liberate our homeland, Afrin, from the hands of the enemies, victory and pride will replace our grief. Akid’s dream was to see Afrin free, and as his sister and comrade in the struggle, I vow to continue fighting to realize his dream until the very end."

"We will raise the voice of resistance to the peaks of the mountains"

During the ceremony, Djwar Halab, Akid’s brother, delivered a speech on behalf of the family, stating that he had spoken with him shortly before his martyrdom. He recalled Akid’s words: "We will raise the voice of resistance to the peaks of the mountains and deliver it everywhere, you with your weapon on the Qereqozaqê Bridge, and I with my pen and camera at the Tishrin Dam."

Rojinda Roj, Akid’s sister, also spoke about his words to her before his passing, emphasizing that they must not allow their sun to be eclipsed by darkness. He had chosen the surname Roj for himself and asked her to take the name Rojinda. She pledged to follow in his footsteps and fulfill his dreams and aspirations.

A-H

ANHA