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Sakine Cansiz: 'a legend among PKK members' Sakine Cansiz: 'a legend among PKK members'
(7 days later)
Sakine Cansiz, who was shot dead in Paris with two other female activists, was a founding member of the Kurdistan Workers' party (PKK).Sakine Cansiz, who was shot dead in Paris with two other female activists, was a founding member of the Kurdistan Workers' party (PKK).
Originally from Tunceli (formerly Dersim), she was present at the founding meeting of the PKK on 25 November 1978 in a tea house in Fis, a town close to Diyarbakir in the predominantly Kurdish south-east of Turkey.Originally from Tunceli (formerly Dersim), she was present at the founding meeting of the PKK on 25 November 1978 in a tea house in Fis, a town close to Diyarbakir in the predominantly Kurdish south-east of Turkey.
After the military coup of September 1980 she was imprisoned along with many other members of the PKK, and spent many years jailed in Diyarbakir prison, where 34 inmates died of torture between 1981 and 1989, and hundreds suffered lasting injury. According to PKK members and former inmates, the treatment of political prisoners in Diyarbakir prison was one of the main reasons for the organisation's radicalisation and the armed struggle against the Turkish state, which escalated dramatically in 1984.After the military coup of September 1980 she was imprisoned along with many other members of the PKK, and spent many years jailed in Diyarbakir prison, where 34 inmates died of torture between 1981 and 1989, and hundreds suffered lasting injury. According to PKK members and former inmates, the treatment of political prisoners in Diyarbakir prison was one of the main reasons for the organisation's radicalisation and the armed struggle against the Turkish state, which escalated dramatically in 1984.
Cansiz led the Kurdish protest movement inside prison and by the time she was released she had become a "legend amongst PKK members", according to one activist. She entered the PKK training camp in the Bekaa valley, then under Syrian control, and joined the armed struggle in northern Iraq under the command of Osman Öcalan, PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan's younger brother. Osman later distanced himself from the PKK.Cansiz led the Kurdish protest movement inside prison and by the time she was released she had become a "legend amongst PKK members", according to one activist. She entered the PKK training camp in the Bekaa valley, then under Syrian control, and joined the armed struggle in northern Iraq under the command of Osman Öcalan, PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan's younger brother. Osman later distanced himself from the PKK.
It is there that Cansiz started to organise the women's movement inside the organisation. In her book Blood and Belief, journalist and PKK expert Aliza Marcus writes that by 1993, one-third of the PKK's armed forces were women.It is there that Cansiz started to organise the women's movement inside the organisation. In her book Blood and Belief, journalist and PKK expert Aliza Marcus writes that by 1993, one-third of the PKK's armed forces were women.
Mehmet Ali Ertas, activist and journalist at the pro-Kurdish DIHA news agency, described Cansiz as the main representative for the Kurdish women's movement. He said: "She was the most prominent and most important female Kurdish activist. She did not shy away from speaking her mind, especially when it came to women's issues."Mehmet Ali Ertas, activist and journalist at the pro-Kurdish DIHA news agency, described Cansiz as the main representative for the Kurdish women's movement. He said: "She was the most prominent and most important female Kurdish activist. She did not shy away from speaking her mind, especially when it came to women's issues."
In 1992 Cansiz was dispatched to Europe by Murat Karayilan, then the leader of the PKK's armed wing. She spent some time in Germany before finally moving to France, where she continued to work for the organisation.In 1992 Cansiz was dispatched to Europe by Murat Karayilan, then the leader of the PKK's armed wing. She spent some time in Germany before finally moving to France, where she continued to work for the organisation.
Vahap Coskun, assistant professor at Dicle University in Diyarbakir, said that Cansiz had been known to be very close to the jailed Abdullah Öcalan. When he was interrogated after his imprisonment in 1999, Öcalan said about her: "I started the women's movement to free [women] from the feudalism of men and to create a strong type of woman. I wanted lively discussions. In relation to that I do remember the name of Sakine Polat [Cansiz]." And he added: "In mind and emotions she is loyal to the party."Vahap Coskun, assistant professor at Dicle University in Diyarbakir, said that Cansiz had been known to be very close to the jailed Abdullah Öcalan. When he was interrogated after his imprisonment in 1999, Öcalan said about her: "I started the women's movement to free [women] from the feudalism of men and to create a strong type of woman. I wanted lively discussions. In relation to that I do remember the name of Sakine Polat [Cansiz]." And he added: "In mind and emotions she is loyal to the party."
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