PELÎN NÛPELDA - HAVÎN AHMED

Qamishlo- Since December 8, 2024, the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions have carried out attacks on the Tishreen Dam while people from different areas of North and East Syria have been holding a vigil on the dam to protest the attacks since January 8. Menîce Haco Heyder is one of the women killed in the Turkish airstrikes on the dam since January 8.

Menîce Heyder was born in 1977 in Amûdê’s Siceqa village, to a Kurdish family. She had eight siblings. She could not go to school after completing her 9th grade and she got married at a young age. Menîce Heyder was the mother of five; her eldest son joined the Kurdish Freedom Movement in 2017 and her another son took part in the resistance in Rojava. When the Kurdish Freedom Movement spread across Rojava Kurdistan, Menîce Heyder opened the doors of her house to fighters and she participated in activities for freedom, like every woman, whose heart beats for freedom. Although she suffered from serious health problems, she never gave up her struggle for freedom.

 Îbtisam El Hisên, Spokesperson of Kongra Star in Qamishlo, is one of the women, who had worked with Menîce Heyder for a long time. “I should first talk about her family in order to talk about her personality,” said Îbtisam El Hisên. “When the leader (Abdullah Öcalan) came to Rojava, Menîce and her family joined the activities of the Kurdish Freedom Movement. They always opened the doors of their houses to the members of the movement. Menîce grew up in a friendly and patriotic family. She participated in the activities along with her family members before her marriage.”

‘She played an important role in society’

Îbtisam El Hisên also talked about Menîce Heyder’s five children. “One of her children joined the freedom movement in 2017. Her spouse’s family was also a patriotic family and her children grew up with the patriotic spirit. Her another son took part in the resistance in Rojava and he still fights to defend his country. Despite the 50-year Baathist regime’s oppression on the people of Rojava, she always fought for women’s freedom. Although she suffered from serious health problems, she took part in all ceremonies, protests and marches. When the revolution in Rojava started, she carried out activities for communes and then she served as Spokesperson of Kongra Star in the city of Qamishlo for four years. She inspired many women. She was known as a strong woman. Then, she served as the Spokesperson of the Children’s Committee of Kongra Star in Rojava and Co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Qamishlo. She played an important role in organizing her society.”

“Our revolution is a women’s revolution’

Îbtisam El Hisên met Menîce when she attended a meeting of Kongra Star as the Spokesperson of the Education Committee for the Democratic Society (KPC). “We witnessed the revolution together. She was a determined, smart and hardworking woman.” Îbtisam El Hisên attended several training of Kongra Star with Menîce Heyder. “During one of the training, I asked Menîce, ‘You are strong and good at speaking, why do not you speak at the training?’. ‘Because our revolution is a women’s revolution,’ she told me.”

‘We will realize her dreams’

 Îbtisam El Hisên also commented on the Turkish attacks on North and East Syria. “The occupying Turkish state has attacked Rojava Kurdistan for 13 years, aiming to destroy the Rojava Revolution and women’s gains. Today is a new and historic process for all people to rewrite history. All people of North and East Syria go to the Tishreen Dam to support the SDF and YPJ fighters and to exist in the new century. Menîce went to the Tishreen Dam to support the SDF and YPJ fighters. We will always follow in her footsteps and realize her dreams.”