PERWÎN AMARA

Qamishlo (Qamishli)- The fight of women for freedom of their people made the revolution in Rojava successful. This revolution has also inspired women all over the world.

The revolution in North and East Syria (Rojava) is known for the resistance of women, who devote their lives to liberate their region.

Heva Al-Arabo, also known as Saliha Viyan, was one of these women. Born to a Kurdish family in 1981, in Dirbêsiye (Al-Darbasiyah), a town of North and East Syria, she dropped out after 8th grade. She was involved in Kurdish political activities when she was only 16. In 2000, she joined the Kurdish Freedom Movement. She made great efforts for women during the revolution in Rojava. As a Kurdish woman, she also played an important role in the liberation of Manbij, Raqqa, Tabqa and Deir ez-Zor. Then, she struggled for the freedom of Arab women.

Saliha Viyan was also one of the founders of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, a member of the Women’s Council in the Jazira canton and served as Co-chair of the canton. Then, she became a member of Kongra Star and she was elected as a coordinating member of Kongra Star. Saliha Viyan carried out various activities for women when she was a coordinating member of Kongra Star. On January 27, 2025, a Turkish drone targeted a vehicle in the Ranya town of Sulaymaniyah, killing Saliha Viyan and two other people.

‘My daughter had the spirit of resistance even when she was a child’

“My daughter had the spirit of resistance even when she was a child,” said Zekiyê Erebo, the mother of Saliha Viyan. “My daughter's biggest dream was to join the freedom movement. She was a modest and helpful person. Since we were a patriotic family, many friends (Kurdish fighters) visited us when she was a child. Saliha became happy whenever she saw the friends. One day, I told her to focus on her education. ‘I don’t want to study when I see friends. I want to join them,” she told me.”

‘She was a child with big goals’

Saliha Viyan was a child with big goals, her mother told NuJINHA. “Even before joining the movement, she told me, ‘I feel confident, I can bear the burden.’ She had such energy that she touched everyone's heart and gave strength to everyone. I am proud of her for having chosen this path.”

‘She always stood with women’

Emîne Omer met Saliha Viyan during the establishment of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). “I worked along with comrade Saliha at the Women’s Council. Comrade Saliha always helped her comrades and shared her experiences with her comrades. She was always in high spirits and stood with women.”

‘She spent her life serving the revolution’

Saliha Viyan devoted her entire life to the struggle and freedom of her people, Emîne Omer stressed. “She worked for women in many regions of North and East Syria. She helped and supported all women, especially the women who were subjected to oppression by ISIS in the liberated areas. She made great efforts not only for Kurdish women, but also Arab and Syriac and all women.”

‘We will follow in her footsteps’

Emîne Omer vowed to follow in the footsteps of Saliha Viyan and said, “Comrade Saliha left behind a history full of struggle. Losing such comrades, who sacrificed their lives for the struggle and freedom of the people, makes us sad but we will always follow in their footsteps. We will maintain their struggle for freedom.”