Karker Heval: The Life Of A Revolutionary And Internationalist Martyred In Kobanê

The following piece tells the story of Rifat Horoz, who became better known by his nom de guerre Karker Kobanê after he traveled to the city to aid in Kobane’s defense and reconstruction during the ISIS offensive last year. Karker Heval, who became a member of the YPG, was killed during the ISIS terrorist attack on Kobanê last week. Journalist Rojin Akın had spoken with Karker just a couple of weeks before his death, on July 11th, and wrote this article about Karker’s life and his motivations for coming to Kobanê. It has been translated into English below.

At the end of 48th avenue, in Kobanê city center just across from the Canton building, there is a courtyard stacked full of mortar rounds, the destroyed wreckage of cars, rockets, bombs and all kinds of spent ammunition. Before the war this area had been used as a sports field. Today the…