Commanders Koçerîn, Şîlan, and Kinda: Symbols of Sacrifice for the Homeland
The Revolution of Freedom continues to grow day after day, advancing steadily toward victory thanks to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the homeland. The history of Kurdistan’s freedom is the history of forging the free individual and the free society. In defense of human and social values, the freedom fighters of the homeland have always struggled with unmatched determination and dedication.
Our comrades Koçerîn Lavînya, Şîlan Canfeda, and Kinda Brosk embodied this unwavering commitment to freedom. With courage and self-sacrifice, they confronted malicious schemes and resisted until their final breaths, ultimately joining the caravan of immortals.
At the outset, we extend our deepest condolences to Leader Abdullah Öcalan, the founder of free life, to the families of our beloved comrades, and to our entire patriotic people.
The fighters of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) have been exemplary models of great sacrifice. Through their determination and struggle, they have become a source of strength for the resistance of women across the world and Kurdish women in particular. In the twenty-first century, the courage they demonstrated in pursuit of social freedom has become a source of pride for societies yearning for liberty.
Women have never accepted occupation or interference in their lands. Instead, they organized themselves and stood against it. Throughout history, women have made immense sacrifices for the freedom of societies. In the face of policies denying women’s existence and identity, the Women’s Protection Units adopted an unwavering stance and resolute will. Inspired by the spirit of Rindkhan and Berîtan, they continue their struggle against all attacks targeting the freedom of women and society.
During the month of January, attacks were carried out as part of a dangerous plan aimed at undermining the will of the peoples of Syria and Rojava. The Women’s Protection Units stood at the forefront of the defense of the achievements of the Women’s Revolution. Yet the calculations drawn up for the region ultimately collided with the determination of the homeland’s freedom fighters.
Nurcan Başak, known by her nom de guerre Koçerîn Lavînya, was born in 1986 in the city of Siirt into a patriotic family renowned for its national stance and great sacrifices for the cause of freedom. The struggle of the Kurdistan Freedom Movement played a decisive role in shaping Commander Koçerîn’s character. Her father opposed repressive policies and was targeted by the ruling regime, ultimately attaining martyrdom in 1992. His martyrdom, combined with the deeply rooted patriotism of the region, left a profound impact on her personality.
In 2007, Koçerîn began her practical work for the freedom of her people, and her choice of the path of freedom marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life. With the development of the Rojava Revolution, she made her way to Western Kurdistan and joined the ranks of the Women’s Protection Units in 2015.
Thanks to her mature and steadfast character, she quickly gained extensive experience in the principles of homeland and women’s freedom. She developed her personality on the foundation of Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s thought and became a source of morale and inspiration for her comrades.
Koçerîn lived every moment of her life according to the philosophy of free life and emerged as a pioneering militant on the path of women’s freedom. Since joining the revolution, she earned a cherished place in the hearts of her comrades through her sincerity, compassion, and ever-present smile.
As a field commander, she prevented armed groups from achieving their objectives. Alongside her comrades Şîlan and Kinda, she mounted fierce resistance in Deir Hafir against their attacks. The battlefronts bore witness to her enduring spirit and steadfast resistance. She upheld the Apoist line of resistance in the face of every hardship and never relinquished the dignity of her people until her final drop of blood.
Commander Koçerîn stands today as a model and benchmark of the spirit of struggle in this era. On 16 January 2026, she carried out a self-sacrificial operation using her hand grenade rather than fall captive to armed groups, thereby joining the caravan of immortals.
Mehriban Şorlî, known by her nom de guerre Kinda Brosk, grew up in Muş, inheriting the culture of resistance rooted in the Serhed region. From an early age, she became aware of the policies of assimilation and extermination directed against her people. She made the profound decision to confront this system, a decision that represented not merely the beginning of military resistance, but also a deep intellectual and philosophical transformation.
Through her ideological commitment, she demonstrated that revolution means building a new life under all circumstances. Her struggle embodied the highest values and virtues of the Freedom Movement’s ideological line. She consistently raised the banner of freedom in the face of occupation policies aimed at erasing Kurdistan’s identity and became one of the most devoted defenders of her homeland’s freedom.
Kinda was known in every field in which she served for her diligence, precision, and humility. She viewed every revolutionary duty as a sacred responsibility and confronted life’s hardships with her revolutionary smile and unwavering determination.
On 17 January 2026, Kinda Brosk fought a difficult and heroic battle in Deir Hafir against armed groups and was martyred, joining the caravan of immortals.
In the coming days, we will share further information with the public regarding our comrade Şîlan Canfeda, who embodied the spirit of heroism in this era and carried out a self-sacrificial operation using her hand grenade rather than fall into enemy hands.
In the memory of our comrades Koçerîn, Şîlan, and Kinda, we renew our pledge to fulfill the aspirations of all the martyrs of freedom. As the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), we affirm that we will remain faithful to the path of our comrades. The weapons they left behind will never fall silent, and we will continue to raise the banner of struggle they entrusted to us until victory is achieved. We will persist in our struggle for a free Kurdistan and free leadership until our people’s victory is fully realized.
General Command of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ)
15 June 2026
Nom de Guerre: Koçerîn Lavînya
Real Name: Nurcan Başak
Date of Birth: 1 June 1986
Mother’s Name: Ayşe
Father’s Name: Ali
Date of Martyrdom: 16 January 2026
Nom de Guerre: Kinda Brosk
Real Name: Mehriban Şorlî
Date of Birth: 1 January 1998
Mother’s Name: Munasab
Father’s Name: Mohammed Said
Date of Martyrdom: 17 January 2026
