Fatimê, the tireless soul of Qamishlo.
Fatimê Mahmoud is the eldest daughter of a family of five. Born on 4th March 1970, she spent her formative years in the village of Khirbet Zîb, nestled in the city of Qamişlo in Western Kurdistan. Despite her tender age, she carried significant responsibilities, shouldering the world's weight on her young shoulders. Her childhood was marked by hardship and adversity following the untimely passing of her father. As a result, Fatimê left school to work on the farm and support her family, enabling her sisters to continue their education.
Fatima's unwavering bravery and tireless work ethic made her a celebrated figure in the village. In addition to her duties towards her family and sisters, she took care of her blind uncle and helped him in his daily life.
At age fifteen, Fatimê married the son of the village landowner she worked for, Ekrêm, a young man who admired her solid and determined personality. After their marriage, they moved to Qamişlo, where their love story began. Fatima gave birth to eight children, all of whom excelled in their studies and succeeded in their professional lives.
Fatimê's husband became interested in the Kurdish issue and introduced her to the Kurdish movement in 1985. The spouses worked together in activities aimed at supporting Kurdish identity and nationalism. With the start of the Rojava Revolution, Fatimê’s husband joined the YPG military forces and was one of the first people to be martyred in the war against Daesh.
After her husband was martyred, Fatimê decided to continue her work and raise her children on the same values that her husband instilled in her, with her Kurdish identity and nationalism. Fatima learned how to use weapons and how to protect herself and her children from potential ISIS attacks. Today, Fatimê is widely recognised as a prominent figure in the women's movement in Rojava, serving as a powerful symbol of bravery and resilience.
*The original text has been translated into English by Raz Xaidan.
A personal gallery of archives belonging to Fatimê Mahmoud collected in Rojava for Jiyan Archives:
A modern-day showcase of Fatimê Mahmoud and her life within her community in western Kurdistan:
