URFA - Jiyan Tolhildan, one of the SDF and YPJ commanders who lost their lives in Turkey's SİHA attack, stated in her last statement that the attacks increased as women gained their freedom and said, "We are not afraid of death. We will live free and we will not accept the life of slaves.”

 

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Rojava Revolution, the Women's Revolution Forum was held on July 22-23, 2022 at Rojava University in Qamishlo, Northern and Eastern Syria, with the motto "We will strengthen and protect the gains of the revolution with the unity of women". A large number of women attended the forum, which was organised by 7 women's movements and women's councils in Northern and Eastern Syria under the leadership of Kongra Star. One of the participants of the forum was the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Women's Defense Units (YPJ) Commander Jiyan Tolhildan (Selwa Yusif) who was later killed by a Turkish drone attack along with Anti-Terrorist Forces (YAT) commander Roj Xabûr and YAT member Barîn Botan in their car heading back from the forum.

 

Jiyan Tolhildan, also known as Selwa Yusif, was born in 1980 in Afrin. One of the founders of the Women's Defense Units (YPJ), Tolhildan worked in many fields with the onset of the July 19 Rojava Revolution. Tolhildan, who took part in the operation against Al Nusra in Sêrekaniyê in 2013, participated in all rescue operations carried out in Şêxmaqsûd, Şedade, Manbij and Derazor regions. Jiyan Tolhildan served as the field commander of the Women's Defense Units (YPJ-Yekîneyên Parastina Jin) in the "Cizre Storm" operation launched in 2019 with the aim of ending ISIS, carried out in the Baxoz village of Hajin town of Deir ez-Zor. Tolhildan was the commander of the operation launched by the Internal Security Forces in the Hol Camp against ISIS on March 28, 2022. Taking an active role in the fight against ISIS, Jiyan Tolhildan became the target of Turkish drones after the defeat of ISIS.

 

'WOMEN AT THE FRONT LINES'

 

Speaking at the Middle East Women's Revolution Forum before the attack, Jiyan Tolhildan said the following about the struggle of women: "Society has a history full of struggle and leading women fighters. The most important of these struggles is the Rojava Revolution led by women like Sara, Arşîn, Roksan, Tohildan and Rohman. These fighters sacrificed their lives to save society from the radical patriarchal mentality. As the YPJ, our aim is to protect the entire Syrian society and geography from gangs. YPJ fighters aim to protect the people from reactionary radicals depriving people , the women of all their legitimate rights. It aims to protect it from the radical mentality and state policy. Since the beginning of the revolution, thousands of freedom fighters have sacrificed their lives. Women fought at the front lines protecting the people regardless of race and geography. We believe that we will achieve and ensure the democratic nation project in the region. All women and peoples must make efforts to implement the principles of self-defense."

 

'FOR A FREE AND EQUAL LIFE'

 

Jiyan Tolhildan participated in the 3rd YPJ conference held in Hesekê on April 30, 2022 and made a special statement to the YPJ press about the struggle of women. Stating that the YPJ first started to organise in the villages and neighborhoods among the people, Jiyan Tolhildan said: “Under the leadership of Sosin Birhat (Sosin Muhammed), Sozdar Cudi, Şilan Goyi, they became the power of all of Syria. This effect had an impact in the Middle East. YPJ took the lead on the basis of women's living a free and equal life. There is a war all over the world, not only in the Middle East, but also in Europe. It is women who suffer the most from these wars. An unfair war is being fought. Speeches were made at the conference on how women can strengthen their organisation further. The organisation of women is getting stronger day by day. Not only Kurdish women, but Arab, Assyrian, Armenian and International women are organizing side by side today.”

 

'WE WILL LIVE FREE'

 

In her statement, Jiyan Tolhildan stated that the women's revolution that started in Kurdistan has become global and this is why Turkey targets revolutionary women with the following words: "We want every woman to reach the consciousness of a democratic nation. Women's defense units are ready for this. All our institutions are ready. There are discussions on a new structure and new war tactics. We want to live together in an equal and fair system against the power system that only knows how to kill. This is not easy to do this. There are attacks both inside and outside. This has heavy costs. Finally, we bid farewell to the martyr Dilar Helep in Kobanê. In the monist system, if women break their chains and become free, they cannot become slaves again. The closer women get to their freedom, the more the attacks increase. We are not afraid of death. We will live free and we will not accept slavery.”

 

 

MA / Emrullah Acar