Sûad Mistefa, mother of Kurdish politician Hevrîn Xelef, called for her daughter's murderer, Abu Hatem Shaqra, the leader of Ahrar al-Sharqiya, to be expelled from Syria and brought to justice.

Sûad Mistefa's appeal came amid reactions after a ceremony held on 29 January by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), who declared himself the de facto “interim president” of Syria.

The ceremony was also attended by Abu Hatem Shaqra, the leader of Ahrar al-Sharqiya mercenary group responsible for the murder of Hevrin Xelef, Secretary General of the Future of Syria Party, in 2019.

Sûad Mistefa expressed her reaction as follows: “I do not accept that Hevrin's murderers have a role in the future of Syria. How can murderers, criminals and gangs have a role? I condemn the participation of my daughter's killer in a congress that took place in front of the eyes of the whole world. Only the will of the Syrian people can determine those responsible.”

Stating that Abu Hatem Shaqra collaborated with the occupying Turkish state and committed crimes on its behalf, Mistefa said, “The gang leader Abu Hatem Shaqra sold himself to the occupying Turkish state.” 

Sûad Mistefa demanded the prosecution of her daughter's murderer and other responsible parties who have the blood of Syrians on their hands. She also demanded that these murderers be expelled from Syria.

Hevrîn Xelef

Hevrîn Xelef (also spelled Hevrin Khalaf) was Secretary General of the Future Syria Party (Hizbul Suri Mustakbel), which is guided by a grassroots democratic initiative principle. On October 12, 2019, the 34-year-old politician was killed along with her driver near Qamishlo as part of a war of aggression by Turkey.

Members of the so-called “123 Battalion” of “Ahrar al-Sharqiya” were responsible for the murder of Hevrîn Xelef. The jihadist militia belongs to the SNA (Syrian National Army) - a coalition of reactionary, Islamist and fundamentalist militias that is paid, equipped and trained by Ankara and, as a proxy force of the Turkish NATO partner, maintains the occupation of parts of northern and northwestern Syria.

A medical report available to ANF lists numerous injuries inflicted on Xelef by the SNA jihadists. She had multiple gunshot wounds to her head, face and back and had broken bones in her face, skull and legs. Her scalp was partially peeled off because her hair had been pulled. According to the results of the autopsy, she must have still been alive when she was mutilated. Even after her death, her body was violated.