Mother Of Slain Kurdish Politician Hevrin Khalaf: 'I Do Not Accept That Hevrin's Murderers Have A Role In The Future Of Syria'

Memri

06-02-2025

On January 29, 2025, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad Al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), who declared himself the "interim president" of Syria, hosted a conference, in which he delivered an address titled "Victory Speech." [1] The ceremony was attended by, among others, Abu Hatem Shaqra, the leader of the Ahrar Al-Sharqiya mercenary group responsible for the murder of Hevrin Xelef, also spelled Hevrin Khalaf, Secretary General of the Future of Syria Party, in 2019.
Sûad Mistefa, mother of Xelef, called for her daughter's murderer, Abu Hatem Shaqra, to be expelled from Syria and brought to justice. She then added: "I do not accept that Hevrin's murderers have a role in the future of Syria. How can murderers, criminals and gangs have a role? I condemn the participation of my daughter's killer in a congress that took place in front of the eyes of the whole world."
Media reported about Xelef's killing: "On October 12, 2019, as world media was transmitting appalling images of civilian deaths and displacement within the context of the Turkish operation 'Peace Spring' in Sere Kaniye (Ras Al-Ain) and Tel Abyad of northeast Syria known as Rojava, more shocking footage emerged... It was circulated Hevrin Khalaf was dead, rather murdered savagely. Khalaf, a Kurdish female engineer from the city of Derik (Al-Malikiyah) in far northeast Syria, was an active Syrian Kurdish politician. She was serving as Secretary-General of Future Syria Party. Hevrin Khalaf was taken from the car. She was tortured and beaten with blunt objects. Her legs were broken. She was dragged from her hair until it was ripped from her scalp. Finally, she was shot dead. Her body, to the appeasement of killers, was riddled with bullets. Mutilated, Hevrin's body was defiled to the whole world. However, nobody recognized her; even family members could not verify the dead body was Hevrin. 'I moved a cloth that covered her chest and face and found nothing left of her body but a small piece from her jaw,' her mother [said]." [2]
It was reported in June 2023 that Abu Hatem Shaqra graduated from the Political Sciences and International Relations Department of the Mardin Artuklu University in Turkey. [3]
(Source: Dijwar Ibrahim)
Following is the article published by Kurdish media outlet ANF: [4]
"I Condemn The Participation Of My Daughter's Killer In A Congress That Took Place In Front Of The Eyes Of The Whole World"
"Sûad Mistefa, mother of Kurdish politician Hevrîn Xelef, called for her daughter's murderer, Abu Hatem Shaqra, the leader of Ahrar Al-Sharqiya, to be expelled from Syria and brought to justice.
"Sûad Mistefa's appeal came amid reactions after a ceremony held on January 29 by Abu Mohammad Al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), who declared himself the de facto 'interim president' of Syria.
"The ceremony was also attended by Abu Hatem Shaqra, the leader of Ahrar Al-Sharqiya mercenary group responsible for the murder of Hevrin Xelef, Secretary General of the Future of Syria Party, in 2019.
"Sûad Mistefa expressed her reaction as follows: 'I do not accept that Hevrin's murderers have a role in the future of Syria. How can murderers, criminals, and gangs have a role? I condemn the participation of my daughter's killer in a congress that took place in front of the eyes of the whole world. Only the will of the Syrian people can determine those responsible."
"Stating that Abu Hatem Shaqra collaborated with the occupying Turkish state and committed crimes on its behalf, Mistefa said, 'The gang leader Abu Hatem Shaqra sold himself to the occupying Turkish state.'
"Sûad Mistefa demanded the prosecution of her daughter's murderer and other responsible parties who have the blood of Syrians on their hands. She also demanded that these murderers be expelled from Syria.
Hevrîn Xelef (also spelled Hevrin Khalaf) (Source: Anfenglish.com)
"Abu Hatem Shaqra graduated from the Political Sciences and International Relations Department of [the Mardin Artuklu University in Turkey]. In the graduation ceremony held on June 6, 2023, Abu Hatem Shaqra wore a robing on which Ahmad Ihsan Fayyad Al-Hayes's, Ahrar Al-Sharqiya's leader's name was written in Arabic letters." (Source: Bianet.org/haber/commander-of-war-criminAl-organization-in-syria-graduates-from-university-in-turkey-280053, June 8, 2023)
"Abu Hatem Shaqra also unfurled a flag of the Syrian National Army (the Free Syrian Army as it was called previously) on the graducation day together with a large group of people." (Source: Bianet.org)
A Facebook user claiming to be Shaqra's cousin also shared photos of him from the ceremony. (Source: Bianet.org)
Shaqra was seen participating in the meeting of the Turkey-backed National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (commonly known as SNC) on November 23, 2020. (Source: Bianet.org)
"In February 2019 Ahrar Al-Sharqiya's Twitter account posted a photograph showing Abu Hatem receiving an award from the Turkey-backed local security forces in Raco, Afrin." (Source: Bianet.org)
Abu Hatem Shaqra with two Kurds he had taken hostage. (Source: Bianet.org)
"Even After Her Death, Her Body Was Violated"
"Hevrîn Xelef (also spelled Hevrin Khalaf) was Secretary General of the Future Syria Party (Hizbul Suri Mustakbel), which is guided by a grassroots democratic initiative principle. On October 12, 2019, the 34-year-old politician was killed along with her driver near Qamishlo as part of a war of aggression by Turkey.
"Members of the so-called '123 Battalion' of 'Ahrar Al-Sharqiya' were responsible for the murder of Hevrîn Xelef. The jihadist militia belongs to the SNA (Syrian National Army) – a coalition of reactionary, Islamist and fundamentalist militias that is paid, equipped and trained by Ankara and, as a proxy force of the Turkish NATO partner, maintains the occupation of parts of northern and northwestern Syria.
"A medical report available to ANF lists numerous injuries inflicted on Xelef by the SNA jihadists. She had multiple gunshot wounds to her head, face and back and had broken bones in her face, skull and legs. Her scalp was partially peeled off because her hair had been pulled. According to the results of the autopsy, she must have still been alive when she was mutilated. Even after her death, her body was violated."
[3] Bianet.org/haber/commander-of-war-criminAl-organization-in-syria-graduates-from-university-in-turkey-280053, June 8, 2023.
[4] Anfenglish.com/rojava-syria/hevrin-xelef-s-mother-calls-for-her-daughter-s-murderer-to-be-brought-to-justice-77707, January 30, 2025.