URFA - It has been 3 years since paramilitary groups under the auspices of Turkey massacred Hevrin Xelef, Secretary General of the Syrian Future Party. Describing Xelef, Zozan Şemo said: "If an Arab woman works in this party, we know that Hevrin has an influence on this."

 

The Secretary General of the Syrian Future Party Hevrin Xelef, with 7 people on the Eyn İsa highway were detained and tortured to death on the 4th day of Turkey's attack on the cities of Girê Spî and Serêkaniyê in Northern and Eastern Syria on October 9, 2019, with paramilitary groups called the Syrian National Army (SMO). The sharing of images of the massacre by SMO groups on their social media accounts caused great anger. It was also reflected in the autopsy report that Xelef and her companions were killed by torture.

 

'HEVRIN XELEF'S STRUGGLE WAS TARGETED'

 

Zozan Şemo, Vice President of the Women's Council of the Syrian Future Party, spoke about Xelef, with whom she worked for a while. Stating that Xelef took part in the studies in 2011, Şemo said: "Xelef continued these studies until the day she was murdered. She first started working within youth organisations. I met her in 2016. Xelef was working in many areas, such as the work of the youth confederation, securing its place. Hevrin Xelef's struggle was targeted. Those who murdered her cannot stand women fighting for their freedom. Xelef knew many ancient languages spoken in the Middle East such as Arabic, Kurdish and Syriac, and she was speaking in this way. Xelef was a woman who served and worked in many fields from the Rojava Revolution to the establishment of the Future of Syria Party.”

 

HEVRIN XELEF ENCOURAGED WOMEN

 

Stating that women bravely participated in the party after Xelef was murdered, Şemo said: “As women joined the party, they encouraged everyone. Not only Kurdish women, but also Arab, Assyrian and women from all other ethnicities participated in the party with Hevrin's encouraging speeches. The Women's Council was opened in 2020. If an Arab woman is working in this party, we know that Hevrin has an influence on this. Xelef is an example for the party."

 

MA / Ceylan Şahinli