By Asmaa Mohammed

Qamishlo – Suad Mustafa, the mother of the martyr Hevrin Khalaf, affirmed that her daughter’s assassination could not silence her voice nor stop the impact of her words, emphasizing that Hevrin Khalaf will forever be a symbol of the free woman and the struggle for justice and peace.

Hevrin Khalaf paid with her life for her courageous stances and her sincere call for peace and freedom. She was not merely a young politician; she embodied the woman who believed that coexistence among all communities was the only path to building a just homeland. She was brutally assassinated by mercenaries of the Turkish occupation, turning her blood into a cry against occupation and an eternal message that the voice of truth can never be silenced.

On October 12, 2019, during the Turkish occupation’s attack on Ras al-Ain (Serekaniye) and Tell Abyad (Gire Spi), the occupation’s mercenaries committed a horrific crime against the politician and Secretary-General of the Future Syria Party, Hevrin Khalaf, on the Hasakah–Tal Tamr road. Instead of holding the perpetrators accountable, one of those responsible was later appointed as a commander.

The treacherous hands that extinguished her voice had aimed to destroy a woman who believed in dialogue and worked to build a democratic Syria that embraces everyone. Her assassination was not only a loss for her family and comrades but a tragedy for an entire nation. She died carrying a political project that called for peace, coexistence, and women’s rights.

At the beginning of her interview, martyr Hevrin Khalaf’s mother, Suad Mustafa, extended her condolences to all martyrs of freedom and to the women who sacrificed their lives for this land, offering them the highest respect and gratitude. She opened her heart, on the eve of the sixth anniversary of Hevrin’s martyrdom, to recount her daughter’s life story — one filled with love, generosity, courage, and unwavering faith in the values of the revolution.

She Refused to Light Her Home While Others Lived in Darkness

Suad spoke about Hevrin’s life from childhood to her final moments. From her words emerges the image of a simple yet noble woman — generous, compassionate, and dedicated to everyone around her. Hevrin was among the first women to participate in the Rojava Revolution and helped establish many councils and institutions. She believed that education and training were the key to building a self-reliant and progressive society.

According to her mother, “Hevrin continued to give training courses over time, in all languages — Arabic, Syriac, Assyrian, and Kurdish — to bring people closer to development and progress. She spent a year and a half in the field of education, but she didn’t stop there. She turned to serve the people directly, considering every home and community her responsibility.”

When oppressive measures aimed to break people’s will by cutting electricity and water, Hevrin did not wait for others to act. She took charge of the electricity ministry, proving that a big heart can create light from darkness. “She refused to have her home lit while her neighbors lived in the dark,” her mother said.

Suad recalled: “When I once bought a generator for our house, she said, ‘Buy it only if you’ll share electricity with the neighbors.’ That was Hevrin — she always placed humanity above personal comfort.”

She Helped Mitigate the Impact of Harvest Fires

Her mother remembered that Hevrin, even in elementary school, was known for her kindness and love for everyone. “When she was in fifth grade, her teacher thought she was Christian because she loved all her classmates equally. That spirit stayed with her throughout her life — uniting, not dividing, and caring for every person around her.”

Harsh conditions never stopped her; they only fueled her determination. “When Turkish occupation forces burned farmlands and destroyed livelihoods, she volunteered in the Ministry of Economy to stand closer to the people’s struggles. She spent two years working to reduce their suffering, initiating projects to secure their livelihood and ease their fears.”

Monitored by Turkish Intelligence

Hevrin had a dream — one she realized through her persistence, and one that continues through her legacy. It began with the announcement of the Democratic Nation Project, which aimed to promote coexistence among all peoples. “She dreamed of founding a political party that united Kurds, Arabs, and all other groups as partners on this land. Alongside martyr Salha and others, she decided to fight for this vision,” her mother said.

Hevrin visited homes across Raqqa, Tabqa, and Manbij, building trust and direct relationships with the people. From this effort, the Future Syria Party was born. But the path of truth is never easy. Since leaving the Nour Darsim institution, she was under intelligence surveillance and received numerous death threats from Turkish-backed mercenaries. Even when her car was shot at, she calmly told her mother, “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m not afraid of their threats.” Her words were stronger than their bullets; her voice louder than their tracking.

Suad recalled how she would call her daughter every evening to check on her. “Once, she was in a meeting with hundreds of Arabs — she was the only Kurd there. She told me she felt completely safe because the people respected and loved her. That confidence in others was part of her strength.”

The Assassination

On the morning of October 11, 2019, Turkish intelligence set an ambush on the Hasakah road. Her mother tried to stop her from going, but Hevrin smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Mom. I have an early meeting in Hasakah.” She refused to let her mother accompany her to spare her the fatigue of the road and asked her to follow the meeting on TV instead.

When her mother suggested hanging the Qur’an for protection, Hevrin replied, “The Qur’an is with me, sewn inside my clothes.” Her mother embraced her at the door and watched as she walked away — feeling, somehow, that it might be the last time she would see her.

What happened next was too cruel for words — a brutal ambush and a heinous crime committed by enemies of humanity with evident hatred. They murdered Hevrin in cold blood, showing no mercy for her body or her message. It was a clear attempt to silence the voice of free women — but they failed. The hatred that drove them to kill her could not kill her idea, nor could it erase her light from people’s hearts.

Suad Mustafa said firmly, “They thought that by killing her they would break women’s spirits. But after her martyrdom, thousands of women rose and declared with one voice: We are Hevrin Khalaf, and we will not surrender. Her path will continue, because her message was greater than one person — it was a project carrying the banner of Women, Life, Freedom.”

Hevrin became not only a symbol for Kurdish women, but for every free woman in the homeland. “The lesson she left us is simple: freedom is not given, it is taken; participation is not granted, it is seized from the hands of oppression. If women are not free, men will not be free — and society as a whole will remain unfree.” Her struggle for true participation of all social components was, and remains, a path toward collective liberation — a light guiding all who believe in justice and equality.

A Message That Lives On

On the anniversary of her martyrdom, her mother’s words remain a living testimony:

“Hevrin Khalaf carried in her heart deep compassion and humanity that knew no discrimination. She placed the needs of the people above her own comfort and turned her voice into a weapon for peace. They killed her body, but they did not kill her message. Hevrin is a light illuminating the paths of women and men who believe that justice is possible — that a society which respects women secures its own future.”

In closing, Suad Mustafa said:

“The life and message of Hevrin Khalaf will remain a shining mark in the memory of nations, a flame that never fades in the face of oppression and occupation. Her assassination could not weaken her will, nor erase her impact in the hearts of those who believe in justice, equality, and human rights. Hevrin became a symbol of the free woman, proof that the voice of truth is stronger than threats and bullets, and that the struggle for freedom and equality is an eternal cause that continues despite all hardships. Her story will forever inspire all who strive to build a society that ensures women’s participation, honors humanity, and believes that peace and justice are the true foundations of any nation.”