ŞIRNAK - Friends of Cizre People's Assembly Asya Yüksel who were killed in the basements of Cizre, said Yüksel bravely led the people of Cizre.

 

 

As a result of the killing of two police officers in Urfa, Ceylanpınar on July 22, 2015; the government returned to their violent policies about the Kurdish problem and self government declarations started and spreaded from city to city in response to the violence. A curfew was declared in Şırnak's Cizre district on December 14, 2015 following the self government decision and it lasted 79 days.

 

177 of the 300 people killed during the curfews were killed in the basements of Cizre. Among those who lost their lives, there were the Co- Chairs of Cizre People's Assembly Mehmet Tunç and Asya Yüksel.

 

Yüksel who stated that she is a mother and she won't leave her children behind, stayed in Cizre during the Curfews. Yüksek was born in Şırnak's Uludere district in 1973. 

 

Yüksel who was forced into a marriage while she was a minor and had 2 children, lost her husband in a working accident. Her brother Necmettin Ürün was murdered by unknown assailants inb 1995 and Yüksel started her political struggle in Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) in 2005. 

 

Afterwards, Yüksel developed herself in the struggle for women's freedom, and actively participated in party work in Şırnak until 2011. Yuksel, who carried out women's studies in Siirt and Batman for a long time, continued this struggle in 2015 as the Cizre People's Assembly Co-Chair. 

 

 

HER BODY WAS FOUND 3 MONTHS AFTER HER DEATH

 

Yüksel's body was claimed by another family who thought she was their relative and buried. Yüksel was burnt to death in a basement in Cizre. After the DNA testing, Yüksel's body was claimed by her family and buried next to her brother Necmettin Ürün after 3 months. 

 

The story of Asya Yüksel who became a symbol of the women's struggle with her life and her struggle in Botan, was told by her friends. Women who told about Yüksel who was a leading the women's struggle, stated that her bravery was what lead them to politics.

 

SHE WAS THE ONLY WOMAN IN POLITICS

 

HDP Uludere District Co-Chair Müzeyyen Rüstemoğlu, stating that Yüksel offered her to be a member of the Provincial General Assembly before she was into politics, said she was the only woman in politics back then. Rüstemoğlu said: "Other women got involved after that. I became the district Co-chair after HDP was founded. Our friend Asya led the women and gave  us courage to be involved with politics.

 

Rüstemoğlu said: "She went to Cizre after a while. We haven't been able to see her for some time. She led us women in this struggle. With her bravery, she inspired the women to take part in the administration. She had a great impact on women.

 

Feride Ender who worked with Asya Yüksel for 15 years remembers her being very hard working. Ender said: "She made the women love the party and called us in for help all the time. She was very serious with her work in the party. We will continue her struggle."

 

 

 

MA / Ahmet Kanbal –Müjdat Can