Menice Haydar, Syria’s Democratic Union Party (PYD) co-chair for the city of Qamishli (Qamişlo) and member of the PYD’s General Council, was killed in Turkish airstrikes targeting a sit-in at the Tishreen (Tişrîn) Dam on the Euphrates river in northern Syria yesterday. Haydar was one of six civilians killed in two consecutive bombings yesterday in which over 20 were also injured.
The names of the remaining five people killed in the attacks have been given as Ekrem Rixo, Kefo Osman, Mizefer Mihemed, Ebdulqadir Ibrahim and the actor Cuma Xelîl (Xelo), known by his stage name Bavê Teyar. Four including Haydar died at the scene, and two died later of their injuries. All six victims were from the city of Qamishli.
In a statement to the public, the PYD expressed grief for Haydar’s death and praised her dedication to her work. “Menice was a symbol of resilience and sacrifice who dedicated her life with a deep sense of responsibility and unwavering belief in her cause as a woman and member of her people’s movement for freedom and equality,” they said.
The PYD also condemned the ongoing Turkish attacks on North and East Syria, calling on the international community and human rights organisations to “assume their responsibilities and put an end to this blatant aggression against our people”.
The Kongra Star Women’s Movement, an umbrella organisation for women in Syria, also issued a statement condemning Haydar’s killing, saying she had been involved in the popular revolution in North and East Syria, known as the Rojava Revolution, “from the beginning” and had “played an important role in building the women’s movement”.
Haydar had “fought with great will for the freedom of all women on the basis of the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ (Woman, Life, Freedom) revolution”, Kongra Star noted, calling on the international community to “assume its responsibility and stop the clear attacks of the Turkish state and protect the lives of civilians”.
