In December 2023, upon hearing the devastating news of the loss of two of our fellow Kurdish fighters during the airstrikes carried out by the fascist and murderous Turkish government, our hearts wept. The fascist Erdoğan regime continues to perpetrate heinous crimes through airstrikes and numerous other atrocities in Kurdish regions, yet regrettably, the Western reactionary governments have chosen to remain silent in the face of these atrocities. The tragic deaths of these two comrades serve as a grim reminder of the countless crimes committed by the oppressive regimes of Turkey and Iran.
Their sacrifice resonates deeply within us
While we may not have personally known Rafiq Arin Ari and Harsh Barkhudan, our shared struggle against reactionism and fundamentalism unites us, the women of Afghanistan and Kurdistan. The women of Afghanistan and Kurdistan share a common pain. Afghan women have endured years of unspeakable atrocities under misogynistic and fundamentalist regimes, often in collusion with imperialist powers, while being unjustly imprisoned in the name of religion. Kurdish women have faced years of occupation, conflict, and devastation.
The courageous women of Kurdistan, inspired by the sacrifices of Sakineh Jansez, Fidan Doghan, Leila Salems, Leila Qasim, Shirin Alam Holi, Arin Mirkan, Arin Ari, Harsh Barkhudan, Faryal Suleiman Khaled, and other fallen comrades, will continue their fearless struggle without fear of death.
We also pay tribute to four other Kurdish comrades, Harik Mohsen Mazloum, Mohammad (Hejir) Faramarzi, Wafa Azarbar, and Pejman Fathi, who were recently unjustly executed by Iran’s oppressive regime on fabricated charges of collaboration with the Mossad.
The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), representing the resilient women of this land, extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of our fallen comrades. We believe that the valiant struggle of Kurdish women has invigorated the banner of liberation movements in the Middle East and breathed new life into it. We view the heroic resistance of the Kurdish people against ISIS and the fascist regimes in Iran and Turkey as a wellspring of inspiration and strength for all the courageous men and women fighting for justice in Afghanistan.
May the memory of our departed comrades be cherished forever.
Solidarity and Strength,
RAWA Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan