Gülnaz Karataş or Berîtan... One of the pioneering figures of Kurdish women's struggle. Originally from Dêrsim, Berîtan was born in 1971 in Bongilan (Solhan) district of Çewlîg (Bingöl) and completed her high school education in Xarpêt (Elazığ). In 1989, when she started university in Istanbul, her search led her to join the active struggle. Berîtan stood out with her stubborn characteristics against oppression and rigid rules, became aware that she was Kurdish during the 1989 Newroz. Her first difficult experience was her resistance to torture in detention and a short period in prison. In 1990, Berîtan joined the struggle for freedom with her fiancé and fought against soldiers and Peshmerga for days in October '92. Berîtan was wounded on her cheek, arm and chest, resisted to the end, but the circle around her grew tighter and tighter. 

Peshmerga commanders were impressed by her resistance and told her that nothing would be done to her if she surrendered. Berîtan's response (October 25, 1992) was to smash her weapon and throw herself off the Lelikan cliffs of Xakurke. She was only 21 years old when she jumped off the cliffs to the sound of shouts. While her resistance was the clearest response to surrender and collaborationism, Xakurke became the cry of Bese and Zarifes who threw themselves off the cliffs in order not to be captured in their hometown of Dêrsim after 54 years...

 

The Beritans born after her death joined the struggle with her heart. The women who are leading the new life that is being built in Northern and Eastern Syria as an alternative to the capitalist masculine system are fighting as the continuers of this tradition. 

 

THE IDENTITY OF THE RESISTING WOMAN 

 

Member of the Zenubya Women's Community Assembly Jiyan Dêrik have stated that Berîtan's spirit of resistance and struggle came from her roots. “Dêrsim was a geography that harbored resilient personalities against the massacres committed by the Ottomans in history and the massacres committed at the foundation of Turkey. Berîtan also took her identity as a resilient woman from this geography. She took part in the movement with this historical identity. Berîtan, like Dêrsim in the Southern War, was subjected to all kinds of attacks. She was wounded and wanted to be taken over, but she did not back down,” Dêrik said. 

 

Dêrik said that one year after Berîtan joined the Kürdistan Communist Party (PKK), she witnessed the “War in the South” and thus both the occupation and betrayal there. “She saw the KDP's alliance with Turkey and other hegemonic powers in the region. She fought against their heavy weapons. She witnessed the death of many of her friends and saw the dirty side of the war. However, despite the enemy's technical and weapon superiority, the will of women won in this war and made the enemy retreat. After this battle, Berîtan became known as the 'Joan of Arc of the Kurds'. Because Berîtan had revived the spirit of Joan of Arc in Kurdistan with her stance and will. She willed that no one should cry after her, 'I will walk to freedom and dance the freedom halay'. She did not surrender to the Turkish army and the line of betrayal, acting with Ottoman ideas and seeing women as 'booty'. Berîtan also became a symbol of not surrendering. So much so that she even broke her weapon so that it would not be captured and threw herself down saying 'Bijî Serok Apo (Long live Leader Apo)'. In her own words, she chose a free life.” 

 

'JIN, JIYAN, AZADI LEGACY OF RESISTANCE'

 

Stating that Berîtan's action affected not only the women of Kurdistan but also many women in the Middle East, Dêrik have reminded that the Peshmerga commander of the time also laid down his weapon after her action. Dêrik continued as follows: “Berîtan's action put a stop to 'birakujiye (Fratricide - An idiom about Kurds betraying each other)'. After her martyrdom, a women's army was formed. Today, the women's army continues to act in the spirit of Berîtan. Women in Bashûr started naming their children after Berîtan. Berîtan became the symbol of freedom here. Today, the women have become an army and still continue Berîtan's struggle against heavy weapons and even chemicals. Those who continue the 'line of betrayal' in Bashûr massacre women. The philosophy of 'Jin, jiyan, azadî (Woman, life, freedom)' is a legacy of this resistance. The women fought in Berîtan's line and have left a legacy not only for Kurdish women but also for the women of the world.”

 

MA / Ceylan Şahinli