Farashin Marfan

Shingal — On December 13, 2021, Bervîn Norhaq (Khanum Demir), one of the fighters of the Free Women’s Units (YJA Star), was martyred in an airstrike carried out by the Turkish occupation on the Gare region. Her memory has since been immortalized across Kurdistan and around the world.

Among the regions that continue to honor Bervîn Norhaq’s sacrifices is Shingal, where she played a prominent role in the lives of Yazidi women following the 2014 genocide (Ferman). Yazidi women spoke of her struggle, affirming that the presence of women fighters within the freedom movement gave them the strength to recognize themselves and their role in resisting oppression.

“The sacrifices of women fighters are an indelible legacy in Shingal’s memory”

Speaking about her encounter with the martyred Bervîn Norhaq, Barfi Elias, a founding member of the Martyrs’ Families Association, said:
“I came to know the fighter Bervîn Norhaq in 2015. During the most difficult circumstances faced by the Yazidi community, especially women, she was always with us, caring for our children. People even used to say she was a daughter of Shingal.”

She emphasized that Bervîn Norhaq was a source of strength and inspiration for youth and women alike:
“She was a leader and a teacher to our girls. She coordinated battles while also playing the role of an educator. Her closeness to us made her a caretaker for our children. With the purity of her spirit and heart, she continued her struggle in the mountains of Shingal. For us and for our children, she was a symbol of strength and hope, reflected in the light of her eyes.”

Barfi Elias added:
“Through her, we came to know the thought and philosophy of Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Thanks to their sacrifices, Shingal was liberated from the grip of ISIS. Today, thanks to Bervîn Norhaq and her comrades, the Yazidi community continues life in Shingal with confidence and determination. She was a guardian of our heritage and culture.”

She concluded by stressing that Yazidi women drew their strength from the sacrifices of women fighters:
“The emergence of strong Yazidi women in society today is the result of the struggle of Bervîn Norhaq and her martyred comrades who gave their lives for us. The Women’s Freedom Movement has offered many martyrs, and their sacrifices are a trust upon our shoulders. We strive to remain loyal to them and to preserve their legacy.”

She added that the liberation of Shingal from ISIS was achieved through those sacrifices:
“We will not allow their blood to be shed in vain or for the enemy to seize our region. We will continue our struggle with even greater determination. Above all, we must remain loyal to the sacrifices of Bervîn Norhaq and her comrades.”

“Bervîn Norhaq gave us hope in the darkest days”

For her part, Zozan Simo, a member of the Yazidi Women’s Freedom Movement, spoke about her knowledge of Bervîn Norhaq, noting that the presence of women fighters in Shingal marked a turning point in the lives of Yazidi women, granting them strength and hope in the hardest circumstances.

“She gave us immense strength, especially when the genocide occurred and girls remained in ISIS captivity. Bervîn Norhaq and her comrades stood by us and provided great support to Yazidi women. She fought in Shingal, and today we follow in her footsteps and protect the gains they achieved.”

She added:
“Today, our youth continue the legacy of Bervîn Norhaq and her martyred comrades by remaining in Shingal and defending it. Their sacrifices were priceless and left a deep impact. We will not allow them to be in vain. She came during the hardest days to stand with Yazidi women. When we saw her, we were astonished—women carrying weapons had come to support us. Their strength left an indelible mark on our hearts, and through them we discovered our own power.”

Zozan Simo affirmed that Yazidi women will continue to follow the path and philosophy of Leader Abdullah Öcalan and the footsteps of the martyrs until the end:
“The ideas of freedom proposed by Leader Öcalan taught us and empowered us as Yazidi women. We will never forget the sacrifices of Bervîn Norhaq and her comrades, and we will remain loyal to their legacy through our ongoing struggle.”

She noted that hundreds of Yazidi youth and women are following their path, holding fast to the sacrifices made in defense of Shingal.

“Had it not been for Bervîn Norhaq and her comrades, we would not be here today resisting. There was a great void for women in Yazidi society, but their sacrifices introduced us to the thought and philosophy of Leader Öcalan. Today, we continue the march of women’s freedom.”

She concluded by saying:
“We will fulfill the dreams of the martyred women for the freedom of women and carry them to victory. Just as we honor the memory of our martyrs, we also honor the memory of the women fighters who gave their lives defending Shingal.”

She explained that Yazidi fighters—men and women—and their children have become an inseparable part of society:
“They sacrificed their lives for freedom and for the defense of this land. They are its children, and as a Yazidi community, we embrace them. We will never forget the sacrifices of women fighters, and we will work to make our struggle stronger day by day. We are the product of the Women’s Freedom Movement’s thought, and we reaffirm our loyalty to the families of the martyrs.”

She added:
“We suffered a brutal genocide, and we will never forget that tragedy. The more we cling to our land and culture, the more we cling to the memory of the fighters who sacrificed their lives defending Shingal.”