Letters from two freedom fighters to their families

Fascism didn’t start yesterday, and neither did the anti-fascist resistance. Faced with the modern fascism that emerged in the 1920s in the form of Benito Mussolini’s regime, a revolutionary resistance developed at the same time, insisting on humanity and free life. Decades after the Partisan-led war that led to Italy’s liberation, fascism is once again on the rise, both in Europe and around the world. If we go a few hundred kilometers east of Italy, we can see that fascism never ceased to exist throughout the 20th century on the soil of the Turkish state. Despite changing it’s shape and colour over time, fascism  is firmly existing today in the form of the AKP regime led by Erdoğan. 

From the heart of resistance in the face of oppression we share with you here two letters written by two young female anti-fascist fighters to their respective families. 

Anty, nom de guerre of 33 years old Irma Marchiani, in spite of her weak health and after months operating as a courier and informer, she joined the Battalion Matteotti as a fighter in the spring of 1944. Always ready to protect the lives of her comrades and appreciated and respected for her audacity, tenacity and empathy, she was named deputy chief of her division. Following her capture by the Nazis, she became a martyr on the 26 of November 1944. Nevertheless, she fell with certainty of the future that her brother Pietro and little sister Pally would live in: a free home, redeemed from the fascist shame. 

On 23 October 2024, as the war continued in all parts of Kurdistan, PKK guerrilla fighters Rojger Hêlîn and Asya Alî carried out an action against TUSAŞ, an arms factory owned by the Turkish state. This company is responsible for the production of drones, helicopters and aircraft used directly in the war against the Kurdish people. The two fighters carried out their action knowing that they would be martyred in the process, writing letters to their comrades and families in advance. Born in 1989, Asya Alî, the only daughter in a family of four children, grew up in Izmir. Several decades after the Italian fighter Anty, she too joined the anti-fascist resistance, fighting for the peoples liberation. In 2015 she joined the PKK and later the ‘Şehîd Zilan Battalion’, an unit within the guerilla forces known for their self-sacrifice actions. 

Letter from italian partisan Anty

Sestola, 10 August 1944

Dearest Piero, my beloved brother,

The action that I take today, an action that has been coming for a long time, requires me to write you these lines. I am sure you will understand, because you know very well the will that I possess. I follow my thinking, the ideals that once upon a time our own grandfather felt. I am already part of a Formation, and my commander truly has a lot of belief and trust in me. I hope to be useful; I hope that I will not disappoint my superiors. 

My choice doesn't surprise you, am I right? I am sure this would be your choice also, if only so many things did not assault you. Well, one of the family is enough and that someone is me. When I received a letter from Pally after I invited her here, she also answered me: "What right do I have to escape the common danger?''. It is true, but I did not remain here to stay calm, but because my soul and heart love this village.

But now everything is sad, the events unfolding cover even the most beautiful things with a sad veil. In my heart bloomed the idea (unfortunately shared by too few) that everyone must give their support. This call is something so strong, something that I feel so deeply, that after arranging a couple of things I can depart content.

"You have something in your eyes that tell me you will be able to lead", the commander told me,  "Your mind is your greatest credit, I never dreamed of enlisting a woman, but you I did" 

And yet he had seen me only two times. I will do my duty, if Fate will leave me with the gift of life, I will be happy, if not please don't cry for me. I ask you just one thing: don't think of me as a bad little sister. I am a creature of action and my spirit needs to wander; but all towards high and beautiful ideals.

You know it well my dearest brother, that below my calm expression (quiet maybe?) is concealed a soul that strives to reach something. Stillness is not for me. Maybe the years that passed by restrained my body, but my will was never inert. God made it so I was readier than ever today.

Think of me dear Pietro, and bless me. Now I know you are in danger, after all that is the case everywhere nowadays, 

So I salute you and kiss you so so much and cuddle you tightly,

Your Sister, Armiger

Letter from PKK freedom figther Asya Alî

TO MY FAMILY

I can imagine you'll be shocked by the news. But if you've understood me even a little bit during our time together, you should know that my joining the party and my struggle afterwards would not be ordinary, that I would always want more, I would always want the best. I always told you that if I didn't join the PKK, I would blame you for the rest of my life and I wouldn't be happy and I would make you unhappy. Because you've always demonstrated your love as an obstacle to me. True love, on the other hand, requires the creation of a space where your beloved person can live freely. So I want you to know that my love for you reached its true essence after joining the PKK. 

You must understand that the effort that you gave me, above all your discipline and morality, has led me to choose a life of freedom. To be worthy of you was to fight for you. If you really love me, as you've always said, then keep fighting. Resist the enemy not just to the extent of your strength but with all your will, and never cry for me. Your crying humiliates me as it does not glorify me. This will be your first battle with the enemy. 

I'm going to ask you two things. First, raise my nephews with their own language, their own identity. They should not feel the lack that I felt and they should know Rêbertî, the PKK. Second, bury me in any graveyard of sehîds, even if there is only a tiny bit left of me. I only sleep peacefully with my comrades. You may lose one daughter, I have lost hundreds of comrades. I hope you understand me. 

My dear mother, forgive me for not being able to spend too much time with you and caring with you as your only daughter. I was always comfortable thinking that my father and my brothers were caring for you. But I realized within the Party, among my female comrades, that the need of women for other women, and for women discussing with women cannot be fulfilled by anyone else. So, when I know that you can build everything that you couldn't with me with the women around you, it will be the best gift for me. 

As long as you remember me, I am with you, but you will have a stand according to my struggle and remember that all my comrades are your children. I am also a child of thousands of families of sehîds. At the level you understand me, I'm with you.

Apoist Greetings and Respect

Asya Alî

11 November 2022