The transformation experienced in the political, social, economic, diplomatic and educational fields thanks to the revolution in Northern and Eastern Syria was a process that also redefined the role of women.

This revolution went down in history as a period in which women came to the forefront not as mere spectators but as active participants. As the vanguard of the revolution, women gained an important place in the struggle for social justice, equality and freedom.

However, 142 of these brave women were targeted from the air and land by the Turkish state and the gangs it supported and killed. The stories of some of these women are as follows:

Xalîde Îsa

Xalîde Îsa and her son Hêjar Silêman were killed as a result of the attack carried out by the Turkish state on 28 August.

Xalîde Îsa was born in 1979 in Tirbêspiyê. She grew up in a patriotic family as the eldest child of the family. Xalîde Îsa, a mother of four, took part in the Martyr Cesur Commune in the neighbourhood of Enteriye in 2014. After her struggle in the communes, she continued to struggle as neighbourhood of Enteriye's executive of Kongra Star and continued in this position until her death. She was a leading woman who did not bow to oppression and fought for justice, equality, democracy and for people to live freely. She devoted her life to women's freedom struggle to ensure gender equality. She worked hard in Kongra Star, defended women's rights and fought for the construction of a democratic family model. One of her sons was a guerrilla of the Kurdish Freedom Struggle.

Leyman Şiwêş and Yusra Derwêş

Qamishlo Canton Council co-chair Yusra Derwêş and Qamishlo Canton council deputy-chair Leyman Şiwêş were killed in the attack carried out by the Turkish state on 20 June 2023. 

Leyman Şiwêş was born in 1968 in Amûdê, Cîzre Canton. She contributed greatly to the Kurdish Freedom Struggle in 1989. She was arrested by the KDP in 2002-2003 on the grounds of her women's freedom struggle and her work, and spent 6 months in prison. As a Kurdish woman, she fought for 38 years.

She was among the first fighters of Rojava and carried out work in many areas throughout Kurdistan and abroad. Leyman Şiwêş, who went to Russia in 2008, continued her work there for 7 years. With the beginning of the 19 July Revolution in Rojava-Northern and Eastern Syria, she decided to return to her hometown Kobanê in 2015 and continued her struggle there.

Leyman Şiwêş, one of the first women who laid the foundations of the democratic project in the regions liberated from ISIS mercenaries, went to Manbij in 2016 and stayed there until 2019.

Yusra Derwêş was born in Amûdê in September 1971. She had not bowed to the racist policies of the Damascus government since childhood, and stood against the regime's oppression and racism in the education system.

Derwêş grew up in the Kurdistan Freedom Struggle, and worked in many areas. She was one of the founders of the Amûdê school board, and served as the co-chair of the Amûdê Assembly in 2012-2013. She was later elected as the co-chair of the Amûdê Education Institution. She worked to improve the education system in the region for many years, and was elected as the co-chair of the Qamishlo Canton Assembly on 1 November 2022.

Jiyan, Roj and Barîn

The Turkish state targeted Jiyan Tolhildan, Roj Xabûr and Barîn Botan, who were participating in the Northern and Eastern Syria Women's Revolution Forum, on 22 July 2022. As a result of this attack, the 3 YPJ leaders were killed.

Jiyan Tolhildan was born in 1980 in the village of Memala in the Raco district of Afrin. The child of a patriotic family, Jiyan Tolhildan was introduced to the Kurdistan Freedom Movement through her family. Her devotion deepened especially when her older brother Elî Afrin joined the freedom struggle in 1996. Jiyan herself joined the Freedom Movement after Leader Abdullah Öcalan was taken hostage in an international conspiracy in 1999. With the beginning of the sparks of the Rojava Revolution, she went to Rojava and led the foundation of Yekîtiya Xwendekarên Kurdistan (YXK). After playing an active role in the formation of the YPG and YPJ, she took part in the Counter-Terrorism Units (YAT). She witnessed almost every moment of the difficulties, resistance, pain and success during the revolutionary process.

In 2013, when the mercenaries attacked Serêkaniyê, she led the ranks of the resistance. She participated in the Şêxmeqsûd and Afrin resistances and played an important role in the defeat of ISIS mercenaries in Şedadê, Manbij and Deir ez-Zor.

Roj Xabûr was born in 1992 in the city of Dirbêsiyê. She joined the ranks of the revolution in 2011. She was one of the founders of the YPG and had undertaken important duties by developing herself militarily and ideologically.

In 2016, she took part in the liberation of Manbij to save people from the tyranny of ISIS gangs. She was at the forefront of the resistance against the attacks of ISIS gangs and groups affiliated with the Turkish state coming from Jarablus.

In 2019, while the Turkish state and its gangs were attacking Girê Spî and Serêkaniyê, she led the resistance on the Girê Spî front and continued her struggle until the last moment of the occupation. She later took on the responsibility of military training and trained dozens of fighters.

Barîn Botan was born in the Ehrez district of the Shehba canton. YPJ fighter Barîn, who joined the YXK in 2011, was affected by the martyrdom of Barîn Kobanê and decided to join the YPJ on 1 February 2018. After a while, she joined the Counter-Terrorism Units (YAT) and worked actively with them . She took part in many special operations against ISIS as a fighter.

Rojîn, Viyan and Nûjiyan

In the attack carried out by the Turkish state on 25 December 2021, 4 young people, 2 men and 2 women, were killed. Rojîn Ehmed, who was seriously injured, fell as a martyr on 26 December.

Viyan Kobanê, Nûjiyan Öcalan and Rojîn Ehmed were members of the Young Women's Union. The three young women advocated for women's rights and freedom throughout the struggle. They pioneered the youth's greater involvement in social life through education and awareness-raising activities.

These three young women, who took part in many actions and took the lead, made an effort to make women's voices heard.

Hebûn, Zehra and Emine

Euphrates Canton Kongra Star Coordination members Zehra Berkel, Euphrates Canton Kongra Star Member Hebûn Mele Xelîl and Emine Veysi were killed in the drone attack carried out by the Turkish state on the village of Helincê in Kobanê on 23 June 2020.

Hebûn Mele Xelîl (39) was born in the village of Bender in Kobanê. Originally from the village of Helincê in the southeast of Kobanê, Hebûn Mele Xelîl grew up in a patriotic family. After the ISIS gangs attacked Kobanê, she joined the YPJ ranks on 15 September 2014 and took his place on the front lines against the gangs. She wrote epics of heroism with her friends and became one of the heroes in the glorious resistance against ISIS.

Born in 1987 to a family from Kobanê, Zehra Berkel graduated from the Department of Law at Aleppo University. She joined women's studies in 2013 and first took part in Mala Jin (Women's House). Later, she worked in Heyva Sor a Kurd and Kobanê People's Assembly.

She was elected as the co-chair of Kobanê People's Municipality. After her municipality co-presidency, she assumed the role of co-chair of Kobanê Justice Committee.

As of 2018, she worked with great effort as a Kongra Star Fırat Canton Coordination member.

Emine Weysi was born in 1965 in the village of Helincê. Emine, a mother of 5 children, was known for her patriotic identity. Constantly taking part in protests, Emine devoted all her energy to the Kurdish and women's struggle.

Dilovan Gever

During a period of violent conflict in Kobanê, Dilovan Gever, who fought alongside the people of Kobanê as a journalist and a Kurdish woman, went to Kobanê in order to tell about the Kobanê resistance to the world. She was a journalist who witnessed the resistance, pain and happiness of the people.

Dilovan Gever wrote her news with great passion, from Kobanê to Deir ez-Zor. During a period when the Turkish state launched the occupation of Serêkaniye and Girê Spî, she took her camera and went there to report about the attacks on the people in Girê Spî. While continuing her journalistic activities in Girê Spî, she was targeted by the Turkish state and fell a martyr on 13 October 2019.

‘Women should stand by each other’

There are also injured survivors of these attacks. One of them is Helîme Osman. She lost one of her legs and one of her arms in the attack carried out by the Turkish army on a civilian vehicle in Kobanê on 18 April 2024. She said about the attacks: "With the Rojava Revolution, women played an active role in every field. They took their place in politics, diplomacy, education, the economy and every area of ​​life. They not only took their place, they also led society. Therefore, the Rojava Revolution resonated locally and worldwide as a women's revolution."

Osman continued: "The Turkish state is afraid of women's leadership and targets women in line with their interests. Because women do not bow down to cruelty, oppression, or power and continue their search for freedom. Attacks cannot intimidate women. Women respond to the attacks of the Turkish state with their will, morale and determination. Women have come together around Leader Öcalan’s women's liberation paradigm. Women must be more determined against these attacks, strengthen their work, increase their struggle and protect their lands. In order to make the Rojava Women's Revolution stronger, women must come together and strengthen their organization."