May 12 marks the anniversary of the execution of the Kurdish activist Leyla Qasim as Kurds remember one of the most prominent female figures who became a symbol of struggle and freedom in the history of the Kurdish national movement On 12 May 1974 the Baath regime executed Leyla Qasim and her comrades after a sham trial in an attempt to silence the voice of a young woman who believed in her people’s right to freedom and dignity but her execution did not end her story rather it turned her into an immortal icon in Kurdish memory.

Leyla Qasim was born in 1952 in the village of Bamli affiliated to the city of Khanaqin into a simple Kurdish family known for its love of homeland and commitment to national identity From her early years she showed great interest in education and national issues She completed her studies in Khanaqin before moving to Baghdad to study sociology at the University of Baghdad in 1971 There her political character became more clearly shaped especially through her involvement in Kurdish student activism and her connection to the Kurdish political movement.

Leyla was not merely a university student rather she was a courageous voice among Kurdish students in Baghdad She played a prominent role in educating and organizing youth and stood against ideas that confined the role of women away from fields of struggle She proved that Kurdish women were capable of being true partners in defending the cause of their people whether in cities or mountains and that freedom can only be achieved through sacrifice and faith.

During a sensitive stage in the history of the Kurdish cause in the 1970s Leyla chose to remain in Baghdad with a group of her comrades to continue political work inside the Iraqi capital believing that struggle was not limited only to carrying weapons in the mountains but also included intellectual and organizational confrontation within the cities.

However her activities did not pass without persecution On April 28 1974 Iraqi security forces arrested her along with a number of her comrades During the investigation she was subjected to the harshest forms of torture and psychological pressure Yet she remained steadfast in her positions Among her most famous words during the investigation were “By killing me thousands of Kurds will awaken from the sleep of ignorance and I am proud that I sacrifice my life for the freedom of Kurdistan”.

On the morning of 12 May 1974 Leyla Qasim was executed by hanging together with four of her comrades becoming the first woman to be executed for political reasons in modern Iraqi history The regime intended through her execution to spread fear among Kurdish youth but the result was the opposite as Leyla became an eternal symbol of courage and sacrifice.

Speaking about Leyla Qasim’s place in Kurdish memory President Masoud Barzani recalled her heroism on more than one occasion confirming that Leyla Qasim was a living example of the heroism of Kurdish women and a symbol of the freedom of the Kurdish people and that she chose death rather than submission to oppression He also described her as a great example of Kurdish women who made history for themselves and their people and who never bowed to executioners and enemies.

Leyla Qasim never disappeared from Kurdish memory after her martyrdom Rather her name remained present in poems songs and national writings and thousands of Kurdish girls were named after her in honor of her memory Her story became an example of a woman who faced death with steadfastness in defense of her people’s cause.

Today in her memory Leyla Qasim is remembered not merely as a victim but as a symbol of willpower and resilience and one of the most prominent female figures who wrote her name in the history of Kurdish struggle with her blood remaining forever present in the memory of Kurdish generations as an icon of freedom and sacrifice.

Kawa Abban
Ambassador at Large at IIMSAM/United Nations