Abstract

The bitter struggle of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, against the Turkish state has delivered inspirational but often tragic stories. This memoir by Kurdish revolutionary Sakine Cansiz is one of them. Sakine, whose code name was 'Sara', co-founded the PKK in 1974 and dedicated her life to its cause. On the 9 January 2013 she was assassinated in Paris in circumstances that remain officially unresolved.

This is the first chapter of her iconic life, leading up to her arrest in 1979, penned as dramatic events unfolded against the backdrop of the Turkish revolutionary left. She writes about the excitement of entering the movement as a young woman, discovering she would have to challenge traditional gender roles as she rose amongst its ranks. She was one of the first to demand the recruitment and education of female revolutionaries, and demanded total gender equality within the PKK, which is now one of its central tenets.

Today, 'Sara' is an inspiration to women fighting for liberation across the world. This is her story in her own words, and is in turns shocking, violent and path-breaking.

Translated by Janet Biehl.
'A brilliant, passionate girl who discovers Kurdish politics in high school and flees her family, determined to become a revolutionary instead of a housewife - A riveting, inspiring book'
Meredith Tax, feminist activist and author of A Road Unforeseen: Women Fight the Islamic State (2016)
'Sakine Cansiz was a true pioneer and one of the founders of a political movement whose story is far from over and whose latest chapters we witness unfolding in today's events in Turkey and Syria. This book is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the real motivates of this unique modern political movement'
Estella Schmid, Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
'A fascinating glimpse into the making of a Kurdish woman revolutionary'
New Internationalist
'Here is the story of a fearless Kurdish woman full of fight, who, with pain and resistance, resurrected and caused resurrection, who rebelled and caused rebellion, who became free and caused freedom. Her story is the story of Kurdistan, the story of Kurdish women, the story of Middle Eastern women. A story that renews itself with the consciousness of freedom'
Çiğdem Doğu, coordination of Kurdistan Women's Communities KJK