Leyla Qasim: symbol of freedom, and Independence

By Leyla Pekoz Caliskan:

Leyla Qasim

Leyla Qasım was born in 1952 into a very patriotic family. She was the third of five children born to a  farmer, Dalaho Qasim, and his wife Kanî. Leyla was born in Xaneqîn but relocated to Irbil when she was four years old. She and her brothers – Sebih, Selam, Sefa and Selah – were all very dedicated to their education.

Leyla finished her primary and high school education before the policies of the Baathist regime forced her to move to Baghdad with her family. As Faylee Kurds they belonged to a group that has faced decades of brutal discrimination in Iraq.  Faylee Kurds have mostly lived in one of the oldest quarters of Baghdad, a quarter named after them: “Agd al-Akrad”, meaning “The Kurds´ Quarter”. They have generally been secular and moderately nationalist Kurds. They speak their own Kurdish dialect and are one of the oldest sections of the Iraqi population in general and of Baghdad society in particular.

Despite the fact that Leyla was very young, she was very determined and motivated to work for an independent Kurdistan and she believed in the power of young Kurdish women and men. In 1970 she  joined the Kurdistan Democratic Party. A year later she started her studies in sociology at the University of Baghdad. It can be said that the period between March 1970 and March 1974 was probably the “golden age” of Faylee Kurds’ participation in the Iraqi Kurdish movement when that movement was united under the leadership of the late Mustafa Barzani. The promotion of Faylee Kurds to these high positions was an expression both of his confidence in them and his recognition of their role in the movement as a whole. Some observers say this may have also been his response to the Iraqi regime’s deportation of Faylee Kurds at the beginning of the 1970s on the pretext that they were not Iraqis but of Iranian origin and the of lack of, or weak, response from the Kurdish movement. At the time of the deportation of Faylee Kurds many of the leading figures in the Kurdish movement preferred inaction and acquiescence on the issue “in order not to upset relations with the Baath regime”. It must, however, be added that the late Mustafa Barzani again confirmed his position vis-à-vis Faylee Kurds by nominating Habib Muhammad Karim, a Faylee Kurd, to the post of Iraqi Vice President, a post given to the Kurds in accordance with the March 11, 1970 agreement between the Kurdish Movement and the central government.

In 1972 Leyla became an active member of Kurdistan Student Union (Yekiti Qotabi yen Kurdistane). Through the KSU she met her her companion, Cewad Hemewendi. Like Leyla, he was a strong activist for the freedom of Kurds and an independent Kurdistan. Beyond their love for each other they had a second powerful love, of their homeland, Kurdistan.

Leyla not only openly expressed her love for Kurdistan but she also proved to many that women could join the political arena with men and work hand in hand to liberate Kurdistan. On April 28, 1974, Leyla along with four of her friends – Hesen Heme Reshid, Neriman Fuad, Azad Sileman Miran and Cewad Hemewendi – were imprisoned by the Iraqi regime and accused of planning to hijack a plane. Despite the fact that Leyla and her friends were nothing but symbols of freedom,  they had become victims of the tyrannical Ba’ath party.

Leyla showed absolute courage in front of government officials when questioned. It is said that during her hearing in front of the Ba’ath judge, Leyla with a loud, brave voice declared:

“Kill me! But you must also know that after my death thousands of Kurds will wake up from their deep sleep. I am happy that I will die with pride and for an independent Kurdistan!”

Her heroism and brave spirit was an absolute threat to the Ba’ath regime for she was perceived to make a great impact on Kurdish students and Kurdish women and encourage them to become active figures in Kurdish politics.

As a result, within 15 days of their arrest,  Leyla and her friends were sentenced to death. On May 12, 1974 at 7 in the morning they were all executed and added to the list of Kurdish martyrs. On the way to gallows, Leyla sang the Ey Reqib (Enemy), the Kurdish national anthem (1), and before her execution she said: “Kill me! But you must also know that after my death thousands of Kurds will wake up. I feel proud to sacrifice my life for the freedom of Kurdistan.”

Her death ignited a fire in the hearts of her fellow Kurds and especially the Kurdish students who attended her University, many of whom soon after joined the Kurdish Peshmerga forces to continue the struggle to which Leyla had dedicated her life.

Leyla’s close family and friends described her as a fearless, intelligent, devoted, soft spoken, sweet Kurdish girl, which is how she will be remembered.

(1)Kurdish national anthem:

Oh, enemy! The Kurdish people live on,

They have not been crushed by the weapons of any time

Let no one say Kurds are dead, they are living

They live and never shall we lower our flag

We are descendants of the red banner of the revolution

Look at our past, how bloody it is

Let no one say Kurds are dead, they are living

They live and never shall we lower our flag

The Kurdish youth rise bravely,

With their blood they colored the crown of life

Let no one say Kurds are dead, they are living

They live and never shall we lower our flag

We are the descendants of the Medes and Cyaxares

Kurdistan is our religion, our credo,

Let no one say Kurds are dead, they are living

They live and never shall we lower our flag