Internationalist martyrs commemorated in the DAANES

To mark the Day of the Internationalist Martyrs, a commemorative event was held in the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North-East Syria with around 150 participants.

March 24 is celebrated by the Kurdish liberation movement as part of the “Week of the Hero” as a day of remembrance for those internationalists who gave their lives in the fight for freedom, justice and self-determination. It was proclaimed after the death of the Greek Eleftheria Fortulaki, who set herself on fire in Athens on March 24, 2006 in protest against Abdullah Öcalan’s solitary confinement.

At the beginning of the event, all the internationalist martyrs were remembered with a moment of silence. In her speech, YPJ commander Nesrîn Abdullah recalled the importance of the fallen for the revolutionary process in Rojava and emphasized that the fight for democracy and freedom would continue in their spirit.

Internationalist greetings

Voices of international solidarity were also heard: the association “Families for Peace” conveyed greetings from relatives of fallen German internationalists and reaffirmed its support for the revolution in Rojava. A representative of the Revolutionary Association of Greece spoke about the global relevance of the Rojava revolution and emphasized: “Eleftheria Fortulaki and all internationalist martyrs are our compass on the path to freedom.”

Alina: doctor, revolutionary and women’s rights activist

This year, the life of Alina Sanchez – Lêgerîn Çiya – was particularly in the focus of the day of remembrance in Rojava. Alina: an Argentinian doctor, revolutionary and women’s rights activist who tragically died in an accident during the Turkish war of aggression on Efrîn in 2018 while trying to bring injured comrades to safety.

Music for our Şehîds

In emotional moments, companions and former comrades-in-arms shared their memories of Lêgerîn Çiya. A representative of the Federation of War Invalids talked about shared experiences, while members of the anarchist group “Anarşist Mücadele” showed a video in which they performed a traditional Armenian dance in honor of the Armenian martyr Ara. The internationalist women’s choir sang the song “Como un pájaro libre” by Mercedes Sosa – a piece dedicated to Lêgerîn Çiya – as well as other songs in various languages.

Film premiere

A highlight of the evening was the premiere of the film “Lêgerîn – In search of Alina the trail of Alina”. The documentary traces Alina Sanchez’s journey from a small village in Argentina to her social medicine studies in Cuba and her involvement in the Kurdish freedom movement. Friends, family members and comrades talk about her motivation, her courage and her tireless work for a new healthcare system in Rojava. Her time in Latin America before her return to Kurdistan was also discussed.

“The martyrs are immortal”

At the end, the mother of a Şehîd, whose anniversary of martyrdom was also on this day, spoke moving words to those present. The commemorative event once again emphasized the central role of internationalist fighters in the revolutionary process of Rojava and the worldwide solidarity that inspires this movement. The evening ended with the slogan “Şehîd Namirin” – “The fallen are immortal”.