Binevş Agal, or Bêrîvan as she was known in Botan, became one of the immortalised names of the Kurdish women's movement with her stance, resistance and struggle. When she died on 16 January 1989, she brought the people of a city to their feet. She inspired Kurds and Yazidis with her struggle. Although years have passed since her death, her name is still lives.

 

Binevş Agal, who was born in 1966 in a village of Yazidis in the Qûbîn (Beşiri) district of Êlih (Batman), took her name from the Kurdish epic "Cembeliyê Mirê Hekkarî û Binevşa Narin". After the coup d'état of 12 September 1980, her family was forced to migrate to Europe like many other Yazidi families due to the increasing oppression. Binevş Agal, who took the name Bêrîvan after joining the Kurdish freedom struggle, first travelled to North and East Syria in 1985 and then to Cizîr (Cizre) district of Şirnex (Şırnak). Binveş Agal, who soon became known by Kurds, especially women from Botan, was killed in an attack on a house on 16 January 1989. After that date, the name "Bêrîvan" became a legend.

 

Both the name and the struggle of "Bêrîvan", which was engraved in the memory of the people, were inherited by women. One of these women, who took Bêrîvan's name and took over the flag of struggle, was Bêrîvan Cizîrî, who led thousands with her white keffiyeh on her head in the 1992 Cizîr Newroz and challenged those who drove panzers and massacred the people by wagging her finger. We talked about Binevş Agal and her struggle with Bêrîvan Cizîrî.

 

'SHE SPREAD THE STRUGGLE'

 

Bêrîvan Cizîrî stated that the awareness of women and identity in Botan was formed with the arrival of Binevş Agal and said, "Bêrîvan friend had an impact not only on the people of Cizîr but on the whole people. She received leadership training and worked in Rojava. After a while he came to Cizîr. With his arrival, awakening started in Cizîr. He had a great impact on the people. In every house he entered, he influenced young people, women and the elderly. Kurdewari stood out with hrt stance and characteristics. She resisted a lot and was heroically martyred. Since I was in that process, I know how she was martyred. I saw Bêrîvan friend at my brother's house when I was 14 years old. I couldn't understand many things, but when I saw Berivan friend, I was very impressed by her."

 

Bêrîvan Cizîrî said that her death affected the people a lot and added, "Bêrîvan friend had her last meeting with Emin friend in Cudî neighbourhood. A clash broke out between them and the police officers who were following them physically and Bêrîvan and Emin were wounded there. They tortured both friends and then killed them with 8 bullets. Then they detained everyone. A curfew was declared for 2-3 days. The families were not given the bodies. Their bodies were buried by the municipality. They did not allow the public to be aware of this. Because they were afraid of the power of Bêrîvan friend."

 

'WOMEN'S REVOLUTION WILL SUCCEED'

 

Pointing out that she then took over the flag of struggle, Bêrîvan Cizîrî continued, "They told me, 'You are brave like my friend Bêrîvan, so take her name'. I thought a lot about this, wondering if I would be worthy of this name. After Bêrîvan, hundreds of young people took part in the struggle. The legacy of struggle she left behind spread to many cities. Women and youth committees were formed. This legacy spread step by step to the whole of Kurdistan and the Serhildan (uprising) began. The Cizîr Serhildan became a spark for all Kurds. The process was now one of work, organisation and revolt. We did not want the struggle started by our friend Bêrîvan to remain unfinished and we wanted to respond to her efforts.

 

This struggle she started is still going on. Their struggle caused me and the people of Cizîr to take to the streets. I had nothing to lose. At the same time, I had taken his name, so I had to be worthy of this name. Bêrîvan was martyred, but thousands of people are following his path. Today, this struggle continues in the mountains, streets, cities and four parts of Kurdistan. The women's revolution based on the struggle they left behind will succeed."

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut