To the public
Once again, the Turkish state has committed war crimes in South Kurdistan and targeted revolutionary women there. Once again, it has made its hostility towards women clear and demonstrated its inhumanity to the world. When our coordination member, Hiva Arebu, went to South Kurdistan to meet with other women’s organizations on January 27, 2025, she became the target of the Turkish state and was killed.
On behalf of all freedom-loving women, we condemn the attacks of the Turkish state and express our condolences to the family, all women and the Kurdish people. On behalf of our companion Hiva Arebu, we bow to all the martyrs of freedom and remember them.
The Turkish state has added a new one to its list of crimes against humanity. The murder of revolutionary women striving for freedom has become part of the identity of the fascist state. In this way, they want to break the will of women and force them to give up. However, it should not be forgotten that every female martyr strengthens us even more in our decision and insistence on freedom and success. It makes our desire for retribution against this fascist and cruel system even greater.
Our friend Hiva Arebu was also known as Saliha Viyan. She was born in 1981 in the city of Dirbesiye, in Rojava (Western Kurdistan). Her family loves her homeland. That is why she grew up with her own culture, language and identity. Her family educated her at a young age on the values of the revolution of the peoples and the philosophy of the free woman. That is why she participated in political work and organized the population with conviction at the age of 16. As a Kurdish youth, she went to the mountains of Kurdistan in 2000 for the freedom of her people and the freedom of women. With the aim of becoming a militant of freedom who could take on a pioneering role, she educated herself with seriousness and discipline to the very end. This made her an example of modesty, diligence, a free woman and true friendship for her friends. She truly committed herself wholeheartedly to her people and the Kurdish question.
Her love for her homeland and her attachment to the values of the women’s revolution led Saliha to become part of the freedom movement. She was unaware of the borders drawn by the occupying forces. She became a freedom fighter for all 4 parts of Kurdistan. In East Kurdistan, South Kurdistan and West Kurdistan, she carried out organizational work that was second to none. She believed in the unity of the Kurdish people. She fought for this and for the dissolution of these borders in our minds with great passion.
Our friend Saliha has implemented the “Jin Jiyan Azadî” revolution in her personality and has worked with great effort to turn the revolution into a culture and into life. Not only for Kurdish women, she has also carried out organizational work among Arab women. After regions such as Reqqa, Manbij, Tebqa and Dera Zor were liberated from ISIS, she worked to organize women there, to spread knowledge about freedom among women, to enable women to know their own will and thus to participate in every aspect of life. As a result, she became an example of a revolutionary woman who is seen as a pioneer by all women and from whom everyone draws strength.
At the same time, Saliha was one of the co-founders of the Autonomous Self-Government. She spared no effort to ensure that all identities could participate, that women had equal rights within the system of autonomous self-administration and that radical democracy was implemented. She later took on the role of co-chair for the canton of Cizire and carried out this task until the end. She was committed to implementing the revolution of the democratic nation with all population groups on the basis of equality, justice and democracy.
With the conviction that the women’s revolution is the basis of the revolution of society, she changed to the work of Kongra Star at her own request. She was elected as a member of the coordination at the last congress. During this time, she took responsibility for organizing and educating women. She promoted their search for freedom and thus became a companion to all women.
We can say that Saliha became a revolutionary who overcame borders on her way for the freedom of the Kurdish people and the freedom of women. That is why she has won her place in the hearts of the Kurdish people in all 4 parts of Kurdistan and in the hearts of all women.
The fascist and murderous Turkish state should know that when it attacks such women, our anger, our desire for retribution and our attachment to freedom will only increase and become more powerful. Under the flag that Saliha carried high, thousands of women are moving today. However great the sacrifices and however much it hurts, no force in this world can make us slaves again and force us to bow down.
In conclusion, we would like to say that we promise our friend Saliha and all the martyrs that we will repay them. We will surely lead the revolution of the democratic nation and the women’s revolution to success.
With regards and respect
Coordination of Kongra Star