YPJ Commander killed in Turkish attack in Qamishlo laid to rest in Kobanê

Sorxwin Rojhilat, one of the YPJ commanders martyred in a Turkish drone attack in Qamishlo two days ago, was laid to rest in Kobanê with vows of revenge.

The invading Turkish state carried out a drone attack on a facility of the Federation of the War-Disabled in Qamishlo on 11 February, killing two commanders of the Women's Defence Units (YPJ), Sorxwîn Rojhilat and Azadî Dêrik.

Sorxwîn Rojhilat was one of more than 20,000 people wounded in the fight against ISIS in northern and eastern Syria. She was born in 1985 in Makû, a city in eastern Kurdistan (western Iran) and came to Rojava in 2014, when thousands of people from many different countries flocked to Kobanê to take part in the defence of the city besieged by ISIS. In the course of the offensive, she became part of the YPJ Command and played an important role in the Kobanê resistance. She was seriously injured in an attack by the jihadist militia and lost most of her sight. After a long period of recovery, she helped to set up structures for the war-disabled and was also a co-founder of the Federation of the War-Disabled. Sorxwîn Rojhilat did not limit her work to helping the war-disabled, but also devoted herself to solving social problems and was involved in projects to promote the equal participation and development of women and girls.

Hundreds of people from the Euphrates Canton and other cantons of North and East Syria flocked to the Şehîd Dicle Cemetery of Martyrs in Kobanê to bid farewell to the fallen YPJ commander. Members of the YPJ were also present at the ceremony, as well as members of civil society organizations and representatives of political parties.

Rojda Felat, one of the YPJ commanders, said, "We will avenge our martyrs, we will not let the enemy go unanswered. One of Martyr Sorxwîn's wills was to be buried in the Şehîd Dicle Cemetery of Martyrs in Kobanê. She fought in every field with her humble personality. As Sorxwîn's comrades, we reiterate once again that we will take revenge on our comrade."

Speaking on behalf of Martyr Sorxwin's family and the War Veterans of North and East Syria, Nucan Rojhilat said the following:

"The occupying forces resort to all kinds of ways and methods to destroy the guerrillas in the free mountains. They want to destroy our nation in the person of Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Comrade Sorxwîn said, 'We have a country and we must protect it’. Sorxwîn took part in the battle of Kobanê on the same fronts as Gelhat, Sorxwîn and Abu Leyla. Comrade Sorxwîn said, 'Let's protect our society, our country and our nation'. We will also embrace the dreams of Comrade Sorxwîn."

The crowd also commemorated Çîçek Kobanê, who was martyred along with 4 of her comrades in a retaliation action carried out by HRE against the military point of the occupying Turkish state gangs in Basilê village of Afrin city.

Speaking at the commemoration, Martyr Çiçek Kobanê's brother Berxwedan Berekat said, "Let the enemy hear our voice, we will avenge our martyrs. We are the fighters of Leader Abdullah Öcalan."

After the speeches, the martyrdom certificates of the two YPJ commanders were read and handed over to their families before the burial took place.