Hasakah- Zeyneb Saroxan, co-chair of the Justice and Reform Office of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) who was killed by Turkish drones on the road of Derik, and YPJ member Bêrîtan Dersim, who lost her life in Tabqa, have been laid to rest by thousands of people at the Martyr Dijwar Cemetery in Hasakah.

“We will never accept surrender”

The Martyrs Families Council member Fatma Eli made a speech at the funeral and said, “Erdoğan attacks women by using all methods. He want to break the will of our people by targeting our leaders. He actually targets the brain of society. Society cannot exist without leaders. For this reason, he targets women like Jiyan Tolhildan and Zeyneb Saroxan. We are not afraid of Turkish warplanes because we have a free philosophy. We have been trained by our leaders. We will never accept surrender.”

“Silence means the approval of attacks”

Hesen Koçer, co-chair of the Northern and Eastern Syria Autonomous Administration Executive Council, said, “Our comrade Zeyneb grew up with the spirit of revolution. She worked without stopping. She was always successful. She represented the identity of free women. Why are the women playing important roles in the revolution targeted? Women are targeted all around the world. If a woman has a history, identity and freedom, then that her society is a free society. However, if a woman is a slave, then her society is a slave society. That's why women are targeted by systems all over the world today. Everyone should protect the efforts of these leader women and fight against the occupation. All states are responsible for these attacks because their silence means they approve these attacks.”

A free country…

Leyla Saroxan, sister of Zeyneb Saroxan, also made a speech at the funeral and said, “When our brother was martyred, Zeyneb said that her burden was heavy. She always struggled for our brother’s cause. Now, I say, ‘My burden is heavy’. I must struggle to build a free country.”

After the speeches, two women were buried at the cemetery.

Who is Zeyneb Saroxan?

Zeyneb Mihemed Saroxan was born on April 6, 1981. Raised by a patriotic family, she was known for her courage. At the beginning of the Revolution in Rojava, she played an important role in in the establishment of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) Women's Council. Then, she took part in the activities of the Cizîre Region Women's Commission. She always struggled for women’s freedom. She was elected as the co-chair of the Justice and Reform Office of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). She was killed by Turkish drones on the road of Derik.