Speaking on the 12th anniversary of the assassination of Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan, and Leyla Şaylemez in Paris on 9 January 2013, DEM Party MP Halide Türkoğlu told ANF that the Paris Massacre was not only an attack on the Kurdish people but also a targeted assault on the women-led freedom movement.

A multidimensional attack on the freedom struggle

Halide Türkoğlu described the Paris Massacre not as an isolated attack but rather as a calculated assassination with international dimensions. She said: "The massacre in Paris was a multidimensional assault on the Kurdish people's struggle for freedom. At the time, there was an ongoing negotiation process, and this planned attack aimed to derail it. When examining the Paris Massacre, the focus should not only be on the perpetrators but also on the reasons behind the attack. Sakine Cansız was one of the symbolic figures of the Kurdish women's liberation struggle. As a founding member of the Kurdish movement, she led the resistance for many years. Fidan Doğan took on significant roles in diplomacy, and Leyla Şaylemez played an active role in youth struggles. Targeting these three women meant directly striking the founding pillars of the Kurdish freedom movement."

Türkoğlu said that the massacre sought to weaken the morale and motivation of the Kurdish people's struggle, emphasizing that it was also an attack on the women's movement. "The Kurdish women's freedom struggle holds a vital place not only for the Kurdish people but also for women's movements worldwide. For this reason, all women's movements, and particularly Kurdish women, must demand accountability for this massacre. As the DEM Party Women's Assembly, the Free Women’s Movement (TJA), and the Kurdish Women's Movement, we do not limit ourselves to commemorating the victims on 9 January but also continue to expand the struggle."

The assassination was part of an international plan

Türkoğlu said that the Kurdish people have been fighting for years to uncover the truth behind the Paris Massacre. She emphasized that the assassination was not orchestrated by Turkey alone, but involved international powers, adding: "We know that the logic of nation-states is behind this crime. But the forces of capitalist modernity also played a significant role in this assassination. Such a comprehensive crime cannot be carried out without international cooperation among states. The French government attempted to close the case with a single arrest rather than exposing those who gave the order, and efforts were made to cover up the massacre."

Türkoğlu pointed out that targeting female politicians was a deliberate choice, and added: "Women have always been at the forefront of freedom struggles. For this reason, hegemonic systems aim to break societal resistance by targeting women. The murder of women who lead struggles for freedom and equality globally is no coincidence. The impunity surrounding these assassinations is part of an international effort to establish legitimacy for such acts. We know that these killings are a method of special warfare, and under all circumstances, we will continue our struggle."

The second Dersim Genocide

Türkoğlu underlined that the Paris Massacre occurred during a period of peace negotiations, and said: "The Paris Massacre was carried out at a time when democratic politics were gaining strength. At that time, Mr. Öcalan referred to this massacre as 'the second Dersim Genocide.' This is because the attack took place during a period when the state was activating its genocidal policies. Targeting Sakine Cansız was intended to undermine the peace negotiations at the time. When the peace process ended, we witnessed the state switching to a war concept."

Türkoğlu continued: "Political assassinations should never be legitimized under any circumstances, and the people must take a strong stance against such attacks. The Paris Massacre was part of the AKP-MHP's policy that deliberately targeted women politicians. They sought to intimidate the Kurdish people and women. However, this struggle continued in Rojava and has now evolved into an international freedom movement. The Kurdish women's movement has gone beyond local borders and established a revolutionary trajectory. We will ensure the success of this revolution and hold the perpetrators of these massacres accountable."