ADANA – It has been 10 years since the death of Eylem Ataş (Cemre Heval), a member of the United Freedom Forces, who lost her life while fighting against ISIS in North and East Syria. Her brother Hüseyin Ataş said that his sister lives on in the women's movement and the struggle and rebellion of the youth.
Her family and friends of struggle commemorate Eylem Ataş every year on the anniversary of her death with various actions and events.
10 YEARS WITHOUT EYLEM
Eylem Ataş was born in 1993 in Aladağ district of Adana as the daughter of a Yuruk family. Growing up in a socialist and political family, Eylem Ataş’s father was a member of the Liberation Movement and the family was the target of constant pressure and arrests. She organised with the Revolutionary High School Students (Dev-Lis) in high school against the oppression of her family and started to struggle. Eylem Ataş took part in the active struggle in high school, Ankara University Faculty of Agriculture.
While Eylem Ataş was studying at university, her close friend PKK member Heval Yeşilgöz (Dersim Avaşin Xeyri) was killed in Dersim on 18 October 2015 along with 2 other members. In November 2015, when Eylem Ataş was 23 years old, she turned her attention to Norh and East Syria.
HER BODY WAS HELD AT THE BORDER FOR 101 DAYS
Eylem Ataş died on 27 June 2016 while fighting against ISIS. Her body was held at the border by Turkey for 101 days. As a result of the initiatives of her family and many people, her body was taken from the border and buried in Küçükoba Cemetery in Adana, where she was born.
Her brother Huseyin Atas talked to Mezopotamya Agency about Eylem’s struggle on the 10th anniversary of her death.
HER STRUGGLE FOR A CLASSLESS WORLD...
Ataş stated that Eylem was also affected by the death of United Freedom Forces (BÖG) fighter Aziz Güler, who lost his life in North and East Syria, and said, "She wanted to fight against ISIS. She could not remain silent about the ignorance of a people, the enslavement of women and the lifeless bodies of children washed up on the shore. The thing that affected her the most was the Aylan baby’s body washed up on the shore. But her real motivation was the revolutionary ideals she believed in. She was a communist, she was fighting for classless, limitless, exploitation-free world. She fought with the dream of a world where women are liberated and peoples live in brotherhood."
SHE LEFT AN HONOURABLE LIFE
Saying that Eylem was more than a sister but a comrade, Ataş said, "She had a big heart. She worried about the poor and stood up against injustice. It was as if she carried the burden of the world in her heart. She would change every environment he entered with her cheerfulness. With her struggle, she showed us what an honourable life means."
Ataş said, "Eylem fought against the barbarism of ISIS not only with a weapon but also with a revolutionary consciousness. In Rojava, she was standing guard for the honour of humanity. To describe her only as 'the woman who fought against ISIS' is to minimise her struggle. Her life was a revolt against all the rottenness of the system. Women like Eylem are not only fighting; they are also shaking this order. Their voice disturbs this rotten system."
SHE LIVES IN THE REBELLION OF YOUTH!
Stating that Eylem lives in the women's movement, labour resistance, ecological struggle and youth rebellion, Ataş concluded: "Wherever there is oppression, her voice rises from there. New generations should be told about Eylem's rebellion, love, courage and ideals. We must continue her struggle in every field we are in. Then we will not only remember Eylem, we will keep her alive."
MA / Hamdullah Yagiz Kesen